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Qatar tribune South Korea’s suspended president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has for the third time in a row failed to heed a summons to appear before the country’s law enforcement authorities, the Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday. The Corruption Investigation Office said that Yoon had failed to appear at their offices south of Seoul when summonsed, Yonhap reported. Yoon had ignored previous summonses on December 18 and 25. The likelihood was rising that office would issue an arrest warrant against Yoon, Yonhap said. The corruption office is investigating Yoon for unexpectedly imposing martial law on December 3, before lifting the declaration hours later. South Korea has been in political crisis ever since. The National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon on December 14, and the Constitutional Court has launched the relevant proceedings to take a final decision on whether the assembly’s vote is constitutional or not. Yoon recently defended his controversial decision to impose martial law by saying he was acting to protect the nation. (DPA) Copy 30/12/2024 10
Seoul, Dec 22 (IANS): South Korea and the United States are conducting joint research to strengthen protection against cryptocurrency heist attempts amid growing concerns of such attacks by North Korea-linked hackers, officials said on Sunday. Based on a recently signed technical annex between the South Korean government and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the two sides will jointly develop technologies to prevent cryptocurrency-targeted attacks and to track stolen assets, according to authorities and cybersecurity industry officials. The science ministry plans to support such research through the Institute of Information and Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation until 2026, reports Yonhap news agency. The move comes as the price of bitcoin recently surged to $100,000 after the U.S. presidential election last month, raising concerns of increased attempts by hackers to steal virtual assets. While the United States collaborates with other countries for cybersecurity research, it is known to have chosen South Korea for research on digital asset tracking technology as North Korea is seen as a key culprit behind cryptocurrency heists. Under the programme, South Korean and U.S. researchers, including those from Korea University and the RAND Corp. research institute, will focus on technologies to prevent and track hackers when they steal assets from a cryptocurrency exchange. They will also focus on understanding how they convert or launder other financial assets they obtain into virtual assets through illegal ransomeware or other methods. North Korea is known as a major player in cryptocurrency heists, with hackers linked to the country estimated to have stolen $1.34 billion worth of cryptocurrency across 47 incidents this year, according to Chainalysis, a leading blockchain analysis firm. Meanwhile, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) chief said last month that the government needs to closely monitor unfair transactions in the cryptocurrency market. "The price of virtual assets has recently been shooting up in a very short period of time, and with heavy volatility of the market itself, the government needs to closely monitor possible unfair transactions," FSC Chairman Kim Byoung-hwan told public broadcaster KBS.Tata Institute Of Fundamental Research Invites Applications For Multiple Positions, Check Details
AP News Summary at 4:14 p.m. ESTLEXINGTON, Va. — The Middlebury field hockey team scored twice in the second half and held off a strong Tufts' squad to capture the NCAA Championship with a 2-1 triumph. The Panthers secured their seventh-straight crown and ninth overall as the program finishes the season with a 19-2 mark. Middlebury manufactured a great opportunity on the first penalty corner with 5:49 elapsed. Grace Keefe blasted a rising shot off an insert that Tufts goalie Lydia Eastburn deflected away with her blocker. The Jumbos countered at the 6:36 mark as Claire Gavin took a redirection off a Panther stick and raced toward the left side of the cage. Goalie Madeline DiLemme thwarted Gavin's backhanded attempt to keep the score 0-0. The Panthers had two final chances in the opening quarter off penalty corner inserts from Caroline Segal. Each shot attempt from Emily Stone (9:39) and Megan Fuqua (14:32) was blocked by Jumbo defenders as the score read 0-0 after one. Middlebury continued its relentless pressure just 50 seconds into the second stanza. Georgianne Defeo grabbed possession in a group of Jumbos and Panthers and blasted a bid toward the left post that was stopped by Eastburn. Lilly Branka nearly put the Panthers ahead at the 18:18 mark by sliding around two Tufts defenders on the endline and launching a bid near the left post. Eastburn stood her ground, pinning herself to the post and knocking the bid away. Lainie Person looked to put the Jumbos on the board just 2:04 into the second half, but her bid sailed wide left. Middlebury took the lead with 2:10 left on its first shot of the second half. Branka dribbled the ball near the Tufts endline and flicked a pass toward the middle of the cage. Segal sprawled out and tapped the ball in while diving to the ground for the 1-0 edge. The Panthers extended their lead at the 50:44 mark. Claire McMichael ran down the right side of the field and slid a pass toward the middle of the circle. Eastburn came off her line to kick the ball away, but Defeo got to the ball a second earlier and poked it underneath Eastburn's pads to make it 2-0. Tufts responded 22 seconds later off a penalty corner. Kylie Rosenquest found the cage after a great pass from Pearson to cut the deficit to one with 8:54 showing on the clock. Tufts tried to muster up some momentum, but Middlebury's defense stepped up to the task, not allowing a single shot over the remainder of action to earn the 2-1 triumph. Branka was named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player after tallying two assists during the playoffs. Branka also earned a spot on the all-tournament squad alongside Amy Griffin (2G, 2A), Keefe (1G, 1A) and Segal (6G, 1A). With one goal today, Segal moves into fifth all-time in single-season points (57). Her tally is her fifth game-winner this season and the 10th of her career. Segal's marker caps her season with 24 goals, which is tied for fifth in program history over one campaign. The Panthers close the season with 105 goals scored, good for second all-time behind the 107 scored by the 2022 and 2023 National Championship teams. Tufts and Middlebury battled for the 35th time and the fourth time in the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers have won each of the last two meetings in the postseason, including a 2-0 victory in the 2018 title tilt. Middlebury made its 21st postseason appearance and played in the championship game for the 13th time. This marked the fifth time that the NCAA Championship took place between a pair of NESCAC squads. The Panthers have appeared in each of those five contests, claiming three of them. Middlebury caps the season with a 19-2 record, marking the 13th-consecutive season that the program has tallied 15 or more triumphs.Academy Award winner Leonardo DiCaprio is receiving a lot of criticism on social media this week because of the way he conducted himself at a hotel in Fiji. DiCaprio, 50, was wearing black clothes with shades and a hat while leaving his hotel in Nadi, which is located on Fiji's main island. It appeared people at the hotel were giving him a traditional Fiji reception as he was walking through the lobby. Footage of this incident showed several people singing and applauding as the "Titanic" actor kept his focus locked in on a car waiting for him out front. Although the full details regarding this incident haven't been released yet, DiCaprio is getting crushed online for how he handled himself. Of course, some people are defending the legendary actor. "The lesson here is stop worshiping celebrities," one person said after seeing this video. "Hey Leo you're arrogance is showing," a second person wrote on X. "Was the reception for him? If not, then he didn’t do anything disrespectful. He didn’t draw attention to himself, just walked past," another person claims. "There weren't enough 'young girls' around for him to pay close attention," a social media user joked. Leonardo DiCaprio blasted as ‘disrespectful’ for ignoring traditional welcome reception at Fiji hotel in viral video https://t.co/JdxdQK5ojB pic.twitter.com/Pu3seRDPjx The tourists in Nadi seemed very happy to see DiCaprio in public. We can't say for certain he feels the same way about seeing them. Maybe, just maybe, DiCaprio will address this situation in the future. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images DiCaprio, a longtime activist for climate change, has been fairly quiet since starring in "Killers of the Flower Moon," which released in 2023. We'll see if DiCaprio makes an announcement in the future regarding his endeavors on and off the silver screen. Related: Leo Dicaprio's Ex-Girlfriend Posed For Stunning 'Body Paint' Photo
WASHINGTON (AP) — Russell Hedrick, a North Carolina farmer, flies drones to spray fertilizers on his corn, soybean and wheat fields at a fraction of what it would cost him to use a conventional ground spreader. As a volunteer rescuer, Hedrick uses thermal drones to search for people trapped by mudslides and cargo drones to send water and baby formula to those who are stranded — something he did after Hurricane Helene . Now he is fretting that one day he will have to ground his drone fleet. Most commercial drones sold in the United States, including those used by Hedrick, are made in China. They have become a target of U.S. lawmakers, who see the dominance of Chinese drones not only as an espionage threat but as a commercial threat because they make it nearly impossible for American manufacturers to compete. It’s another front in the U.S.-China economic and technological competition that’s likely to intensify with the return to the White House in January of Republican Donald Trump, who has promised to get tough on China. Washington has already placed restrictions on Chinese telecommunications companies and imposed high tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles as the U.S. competes with China in semiconductors , artificial intelligence and other areas. A defense bill that Congress passed on Dec. 18 includes a clause to stop two Chinese companies from selling new drones in the U.S. if a review finds they pose “an unacceptable risk” to American national security. Congress has banned federal agencies from acquiring Chinese drones, with some exceptions, and several states have barred publicly funded programs from using or procuring Chinese drones. A broader ban is worrisome for Americans for whom drones have become a part of their lives and work. It could disrupt wide-ranging operations, from law enforcement to mapping and filmmaking that drone operators say are viable because of the low cost and high performance of the Chinese drones. American-made drones just aren’t comparable, they say. American reliance on Chinese-made drones In Hickory, North Carolina, Hedrick began flying Chinese-made drones in 2019 to fertilize crops and monitor crop health. A drone spreader costs $35,000, while a conventional ground sprayer would set him back $250,000, he said. “With the drone efficiency, we are able to do things we were never able to do before: to apply fertilizer but use less, which is good for American consumers,” Hedrick said. But it’s precisely that reliance on Chinese drones that worries U.S. lawmakers. “It is strategically irresponsible to allow Communist China to be our drone factory,” argued Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who has been tapped by Trump to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. She led earlier House efforts to ban new Chinese drones. It was the role of drones in everyday life that drove Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., to get Congress to restrict the purchase of Chinese drones by federal agencies. Those restrictions were included in a defense bill that Democratic President Joe Biden signed last year. Scott has compared Chinese drones to spy balloons that could “gather data or carry harmful payloads” across America, posing risks to military bases, critical infrastructure and natural resources. Michael Robbins, president and chief executive officer of AUVSI, an advocacy group for unmanned vehicles such as drones, opposes an immediate ban. Instead, his group has urged the government to support the U.S. drone-making industry through investment so it can catch up with its Chinese competitors in both capability and cost. He applauds Congress for addressing some of the issues in the 2025 defense budget, including promoting investment in autonomous technology and working to develop a secure supply chain for U.S. drone manufacturing. That vulnerability was clear earlier this year when Beijing sanctioned the U.S. drone maker Skydio, forcing it to ration its batteries sourced from China. “This is an attempt to eliminate the leading American drone company and deepen the world’s dependence on Chinese drone suppliers,” wrote Adam Bry, chief executive officer of Skydio. Citing security interests, China has restricted exports to the U.S. of drone parts, including motors, flight controllers and imaging equipment. John Goodson, CEO of Darkhive, a San Antonio-based drone maker, said a ban would not stop Chinese drone makers from selling their products elsewhere in the world but could hurt U.S. drone companies that rely on China for parts. For now, it remains unrealistic to ban Chinese drones when there are few comparable products, said Faine Greenwood, a drone enthusiast who writes extensively about drones. “If we ban the Chinese drones, we knock out many amazing things we do.” The dominant Chinese player The best-known Chinese drones are those by DJI Technology Co., a company founded in 2006 and based in the southern city of Shenzhen. It's named in the defense spending bill, along with another Chinese company, Autel Robotics. DJI has the lion's share of the global drone market and is the dominant player in the U.S. market. Its devices are known for their affordability and high performance. They are even used on the battlefield in Ukraine by both sides, even though DJI does not make military drones. DJI's drones have been used by first responders to locate disaster victims, mappers to survey roads and utility lines, mosquito control officers to reach swarms of larvae, and filmmakers to capture aerial footage. Police use them to help prevent crime and find missing people. Hedrick, the North Carolina farmer, mobilized drone search efforts as a volunteer after Helene hit. On the first night, he and his teammates located 150 stranded people. When they could not be immediately rescued, Hedrick said his team used DJI cargo drones to send in supplies. “I am not going to say I won’t love to have U.S. drones, but I don’t see the American drones as anywhere close to the DJI drones in terms of reliability, ease of use, and just the user-friendly software,” Hedrick said. “The U.S. drones are not as good as the DJI ones but cost twice as much.” But as U.S.-China relations have soured, DJI drones have come under scrutiny. The U.S. government has put the company on several blacklists, saying it violates human rights by supplying drones to Chinese police to surveil members of the ethnic Uyghur minority, and alleging links to the Chinese military. DJI has denied wrongdoing and is suing the Pentagon over the designation that it is a Chinese military company. U.S. customs officials also have blocked some DJI shipments over concerns that the products might have been made with forced labor. DJI has called it “a customs-related misunderstanding.” As for the defense bill, DIJ said it contains no provision that would allow the company to defend itself. “We call on a relevant technical intelligence agency to undertake an audit of our products, and we ask for a fair right of reply to any findings,” DJI said. The Chinese Embassy in Washington said China opposes what it calls the politicization of trade. “The Chinese government firmly supports Chinese companies in carrying out international trade and cooperation in drones for civilian use, and opposes certain countries’ frequent illegal sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals on the grounds of so-called national security,” Liu Pengyu, the embassy spokesman, said in a statement. A lack of alternatives Several states have already restricted the use of Chinese drones. In Tennessee, public agencies, including police and fire departments, are no longer allowed to purchase DJI drones. That caused a headache for Capt. Chris Lowe of the Kingsport Fire Department. After his department lost a DJI Mavic Pro drone, he was quoted $5,000 for a replacement from an approved list of drones, when another DJI Mavic Pro would cost $1,000 to $1,500. “Basically it would be a DJI clone but doesn’t have all the capabilities,” Lowe said of the alternative. Without any state assistance, he said he would either forgo a new drone or tighten the belt in equipment maintenance elsewhere. He said the department has used drones to scope out wildfires, chemical leaks and disaster scenes and to search for missing people. “It's about life and death,” he said. In Wimberley, Texas, Gene Robinson has used high-resolution drone images to analyze differences in vegetation to discover buried bodies. He said he helped police find a victim's buried arm, making prosecution possible. Robinson doesn’t think there’s a viable alternative to the DJI drone he uses. He said his project at Texas State University's Forensic Anthropology Center would be “deader than a doornail” if there's a national ban on Chinese-made drones. At the Interior Department, the policy against foreign-made drones has hamstrung its drone operations, resulting in the “loss of opportunities to collect data on landscape, natural and cultural resources, wildlife and infrastructure," according to a September report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Florida's state ban In Florida, law enforcement officers last year complained to the state senate that a ban on state-funded agencies operating Chinese-made drones left them with costlier aircraft that didn't perform as well. That prompted state lawmakers to appropriate $25 million to help government-run drone programs acquire compliant models. Christopher Todd, executive director of the not-for-profit group Airborne International Response Team, described the ban and the subsequent switch as “an absolute mess." “Lawmakers failed to understand that this issue is far more complicated than simply changing from one drone to another," he said. “You need to learn a new user interface with new shortcuts and new protocols, and then you need to change all of the software and accessories and re-examine all of your network configurations to accommodate the technology change." But the financial assistance as well as training programs, such as the one provided by his group, made the transition possible, he said. More than 90% of law enforcement agencies in Florida used DJI drones in 2022, and the share plummeted to about 14% after the ban, according to Todd's group. In Orange County, where Orlando is located, the sheriff's office said it spent nearly $580,000 to replace 18 noncompliant drones last year and received nearly $400,000 in reimbursements from the state. “The transition has gone well and has simultaneously increased our drone fleet with better capabilities and technology,” the sheriff's office said.Why SoundHound AI Stock Was Racing Higher on Thursday‘You’re wrong’ viral mum hits back at trolls after boasting about mountain of Christmas presents she buys her three kids
On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. For more On Football analysis, head here . Saquon Barkley has become the Shohei Ohtani of the NFL. There’s no better home run hitter playing football right now. Barkley had touchdown runs of 72 and 70 yards for the Philadelphia Eagles in a 37-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night. He now has five runs of 50-plus yards this season and is on pace to break Eric Dickerson’s single-season record of 2,105 yards set in 1984. Barkley’s historic performance against the Rams — his 255 yards set a team record — captivated a national audience and turned him into a fan favorite for the AP NFL MVP award. He’s not the betting favorite, however. Josh Allen has the best odds at plus-150, according to Bet MGM Sportsbook. Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson is next at plus-250 followed by Barkley at plus-400. Running backs have won the award 18 times, including three-time winner Jim Brown, who was the AP’s first NFL MVP in 1957. Quarterbacks have dominated the award, winning it 45 times. Only three players who weren’t QBs or RBs have been MVP. It takes a special season for a non-QB to win it mainly because the offense goes through the signal caller. Quarterbacks handle the ball every offensive snap, run the show and get the credit when things go well and the blame when it doesn’t. Adrian Peterson was the most recent non-QB to win it when he ran for 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Minnesota Vikings in 2012. Playing for a winning team matters, too. Nine of the past 11 winners played for a No. 1 seed with the other two winners on a No. 2 seed. The Vikings earned the sixth seed when Pederson was MVP. Barkley is a major reason why the Eagles (9-2) are leading the NFC East and only trail Detroit (10-1) by one game for the top spot in the conference. Does he have a realistic chance to win the MVP award? Kicker Mark Moseley was the MVP in the strike-shortened 1982 season when he made 20 of 21 field goals and 16 of 19 extra points in nine games for Washington. If voters once selected a kicker, everyone has a chance, especially a game-changer such as Barkley. Defensive tackle Alan Page was the MVP in 1971 and linebacker Lawrence Taylor won it in 1986. Story continues below video Running back Christian McCaffrey finished third in voting last year and wide receiver Justin Jefferson placed fifth in 2022. The Offensive Player of the Year award and Defensive Player of the Year award recognize the best all-around players on both sides of the ball, allowing voters to recognize non-QBs if they choose. Wide receivers and running backs have won the AP OPOY award seven times over the past 11 seasons. McCaffrey was the 2023 winner. The AP’s new voting format introduced in 2022 also gives non-QBs a better opportunity to get MVP recognition. Voter submit their top five picks for each award, with a weighted point system. Previously, voters made one choice for each award. A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league vote for MVP and seven other awards. The awards are based on regular-season performance. The Chiefs (10-1) and Bills (9-2) already are in position to lock up postseason berths right after Thanksgiving. Kansas City clinches a playoff berth with a win over Las Vegas on Black Friday and a loss by Miami on Thursday night, or a win plus a loss by Denver on Monday night. Buffalo can wrap up a fifth straight AFC East title with a victory over San Francisco on Sunday and a loss by the Dolphins. It’s not a given that the Dallas Cowboys will be looking for a new head coach after this season. Owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday on local radio that Mike McCarthy could end up getting a contract extension. “I don’t think that’s crazy at all. This is a Super Bowl-winning coach. Mike McCarthy has been there and done that. He has great ideas. We got a lot of football left,” Jones said. McCarthy led the Cowboys (4-7) to three straight 12-win seasons, but they went 1-3 in the playoffs and haven’t reached the NFC championship game since winning the Super Bowl 29 years ago. Injuries have contributed to the team’s struggles this season, but Dallas was just 3-5 before Dak Prescott was lost for the rest of the season. The Cowboys upset Washington last week and their next four games are against teams that currently have losing records. If they somehow end up 9-8 or even 8-9, Jones could make a case for keeping McCarthy. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
This week, the superannuation industry gathered for its annual talkfest, and while these events can feel like an insider’s game, this year was different – everyday people were the real winners. The Albanese government announced some long-overdue reforms to the retirement phase of super – and the industry rallied around retirement for once. Together, the interest in, and the changes being made might actually make your life easier as you approach retirement. The changes announced this week could be good news for the size of your super balance. Credit: Simon Letch If you’re thinking, t his sounds like industry talk, not my problem , let me stop you right there. These changes are aimed squarely at solving real retirement problems for everyday Australians like you – problems you might not even realise can be fixed. For those approaching retirement in the next 10 years, there are three important shifts. 1. There will be changes to the retirement products offered by super funds Let’s be honest: most Australians today won’t retire with millions in super. For the majority, it’s about piecing together enough for a comfortable life, with the pension often the largest income layer. But the media still frames retirement as a “wealth management” problem – something reserved for the super-rich. The reality? Retirement isn’t about managing millions, it’s about managing enough . That’s where the reforms announced this week get interesting. One of the government’s key focuses is making an emerging category called lifetime income streams part of everyday retirees lives – a way to turn part of your super into a steady, guaranteed paycheck for life. For people worried about outliving their savings or being too exposed to the stock market, this could be a game-changer. Currently, retirement income usually comes from two main sources: the pension, which acts as a base income and an account-based pension from your super, which many people manage conservatively, afraid to spend or take risks in retirement. This approach has its challenges. Many retirees tiptoe through their savings, afraid of running out of money. Lifetime income streams change that by introducing a third layer – a secure, guaranteed income for life. The best part? You only need to invest a portion of your super to gain this added security. For years, we’ve been told super is like a conveyor belt: money goes in, grows steadily, and pops out a nice pile of cash when you retire. Here’s how it works. The pension provides a foundation. A lifetime income stream adds a guaranteed paycheck, covering essential expenses. The rest of your super stays invested for growth, allowing you to take more risks or boost your lifestyle with confidence. For some it’s a smarter, more secure way to stretch your retirement savings. Take Anne, who’s retiring at 67 with $300,000 in super. She’s worried about spending her savings too quickly. She’ll qualify for a full age pension now – almost $30,000 for a single person; and on top she will have two income layers – a lifetime income stream which she allocated a portion of her super to at age 60, and an account-based pension. At 67, the $100,000 of lifetime income stream secures an income every year of about $7500 unconditionally for the rest of her life. The rest of her super could stay invested in growth assets, giving her the flexibility to take on riskier investments, and achieve more upside over the long term without constant fear of running out of money to live on. But here’s the kicker: it’s not really just about the products changing in the market. These products, if implemented well, are about building confidence, helping retirees feel secure enough to actually spend the money they’ve got growing in super on living a better life. The big news this week is that the government’s reforms are focused on making these products easier to understand, safer to use, and directly available through your super fund – no longer tucked away behind confusing jargon or exclusive to financial advisers. If super funds get this right, lifetime income streams could transform how Australians approach retirement over the next 10 years. 2. Retirement planning will finally get some attention For most Australians in midlife, questions about retirement start piling up: What are my goals? Have I saved enough? Will my super last? How much can I afford to spend? What happens if my health takes a turn? Lifetime income products could give you more comfort in retirement. Credit: Glenn Hunt These aren’t simple, automated decisions like super contributions during your working years. They’re messy, personal, and – let’s face it – stressful. For years, we’ve been sold the idea that superannuation is like a conveyor belt: money goes in, grows steadily, and pops out a nice pile of cash when you retire. But anyone who’s tried to navigate modern retirement knows that’s far from reality. Almost every step is clunky, complex and overwhelming. You’ve got to figure out how much you’ll need, how long your money will last, and what trade-offs to make, all without much support. Financial literacy gaps and the high cost of advice often leave ordinary Australians to fend for themselves. And with too few financial planners to go around, the “just get advice” mantra doesn’t solve the problem for everyone. This week, however, I saw a shift. The superannuation and financial advice industries are finally starting to acknowledge that retirement isn’t just about money – it’s about navigating life’s biggest transitions. It’s about understanding your options and making decisions that work for your personal circumstances. Thankfully, the government and some big super funds are stepping up. The government has committed to upgrading the MoneySmart website, our only independent, government-provided resource for tackling the complexities of retirement. The promise? Better calculators, practical projection tools, and clearer information on how super and the pension work together. Meanwhile, super funds are focusing on their own tools, encouraging members to use calculators that can boost confidence and improve drawdown strategies. In fact, they’ve found that people who take the time to learn about retirement – whether through government tools or fund-provided resources – are often better equipped to make informed, empowered decisions. For many, these tools will provide the actionable information needed to handle less complex decisions, even before seeking professional advice (if it’s needed at all). But here’s the catch: while the commitment to better tools is promising, an upgraded MoneySmart website isn’t expected until 2027, which is too late for more than 450,000 retirees who will have transitioned by then. Here’s hoping it delivers when it arrives. For the first time, though, it feels like the system is starting to meet people where they are: acknowledging that retirement is deeply personal and often overwhelming. That shift alone is worth celebrating. 3. Retirement has to be a system that evolves as retirees do Retirement today is vastly different from what it will look like in a decade. People retiring now have only had super contributions at 9 per cent or higher for part of their working lives, leaving them with modest balances averaging around $250,000. But in 10 years, retirees will have had 9 per cent or more for their entire careers, resulting in average balances exceeding $500,000 – and lifestyle expectations to match. This shift will redefine retirement as we know it. Currently, retirees control about $2.4 billion of Australia’s GDP. In 10 years, that figure will skyrocket, fundamentally reshaping the way we think about retirement and its impact on the broader economy. We’re about to witness a significant transformation – and the system needs to evolve to meet the needs of both today’s retirees who will need to rely on the age pension, and those in the future who will rely on superannuation – and will need a different mix of products to secure their income. With larger balances to manage, the system is being reshaped to offer better tools and tailored products that cater to their more complex financial needs. I’m impressed. The reforms we saw this week are all about fixing the everyday frustrations that come with planning and living your retirement: While some of the changes won’t arrive until 2027, the shift in focus is happening now. For the first time, it feels like the superannuation industry is listening to what people really need – and that’s a big deal. Bec Wilson is the author of the bestseller How to Have an Epic Retirement . She writes a weekly newsletter at epicretirement.net and is host of the Prime Time podcast. Expert tips on how to save, invest and make the most of your money delivered to your inbox every Sunday. Sign up for our Real Money newsletter .None
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Cryptocurrency isn’t just a buzzword anymore; it’s shaping the future of finance. Whether you’re a seasoned trader or someone new to the game, there’s no denying the allure of diversifying into the best altcoins to buy this weekend. But which coins are genuinely worth your time and dollars? Let’s dive into three major players shaking things up: Qubetics ($TICS), Cosmos ($ATOM), and Filecoin ($FIL). Each offers something unique, but spoiler alert—Qubetics is stealing the spotlight with its explosive presale. While household names like Cosmos and Filecoin are well-established in the crypto world, Qubetics is the scrappy newcomer making waves. Its presale success and bold analyst predictions make it a coin to watch in 2024. Let’s unpack what makes these projects stand out and why you should consider them the best altcoins to buy this weekend . Qubetics ($TICS): Redefining Blockchain Innovation Qubetics is the fresh-faced disruptor the crypto space has been waiting for. Currently in its 13th presale stage, Qubetics has raised over $7.5 million, selling more than 367 million $TICS tokens to 11,300-plus holders. Each token is priced at just $0.0342374. But here’s where it gets spicy: analysts predict a post-mainnet price of $10–$15, which could mean an ROI north of 43,000%. Imagine investing $25,000 today. If $TICS hits $10, you’re looking at $7.3 million. At $15? Try $10.95 million. Those numbers aren’t just dreams; they’re within areach. What sets Qubetics apart is its focus on real-world asset tokenisation . Imagine being able to tokenise anything from real estate to luxury goods, splitting ownership into digital tokens for seamless transactions. For example, a real estate developer could divide a $10 million property into a million $10 tokens, enabling anyone to invest. A musician could tokenise royalties, letting fans own a slice of their success. This revolutionary approach makes blockchain not just accessible but practical. Picture this: a small business owner struggling to raise funds can tokenise their operations, selling fractional ownership to local investors without the bureaucracy of traditional loans. Or think about international transactions—imagine the ability to transfer ownership of a high-value asset instantly without the costly delays of intermediaries. Qubetics’ tokenisation tools promise to break down barriers and create new opportunities for businesses, professionals, and individuals. Qubetics is also making strides with its QubeQode IDE , simplifying blockchain development. This platform empowers developers to innovate without roadblocks, from smart contracts to decentralised VPNs. With features like cross-border payment solutions and an asset tokenisation marketplace, Qubetics isn’t just another crypto project; it’s the future of Web3. Analysts are buzzing about the potential. One predicts $TICS could outperform established giants when its mainnet launches. With its presale ongoing, now’s the time to dive in and grab your share of this game-changer. If there was ever a moment to invest in the best altcoins to buy this weekend, this is it. Cosmos ($ATOM): The Internet of Blockchains If you’ve been around the crypto block, you’ve heard of Cosmos. Known as the “Internet of Blockchains,” Cosmos has carved out a niche by solving one of crypto’s biggest problems: interoperability. In simpler terms, the bridge lets different blockchains talk to each other. And let’s face it, Cosmos' unifying vision is a breath of fresh air in a world where isolated systems are a dime a dozen. Cosmos has been a favourite among developers for years, thanks to its Tendermint consensus algorithm and SDK, which make blockchain creation almost too easy. Think of it as the Lego set for building decentralised apps. From DeFi platforms to NFT marketplaces, Cosmos is the backbone for countless projects. But Cosmos isn’t just for techies. It’s also a solid investment. $ATOM, the native token, has consistently ranked among the top altcoins, weathering market storms better than most. And while its price might not promise the wild ROI of Qubetics, it’s a reliable choice for anyone looking to diversify. Whether you’re staking $ATOM for passive income or betting on the long-term growth of its ecosystem, Cosmos delivers. Take a moment to appreciate the scale of Cosmos’ ambition. Its Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol is revolutionising how we think about crypto connectivity. Projects that once operated in silos can now collaborate seamlessly, unlocking new possibilities for innovation. Imagine an NFT minted on one blockchain being seamlessly traded or utilised on another. That’s not just theory—it’s happening, thanks to Cosmos. Cosmos’ scalability and energy efficiency also make it a standout. In an era where environmental concerns are at the forefront of Cosmos's mind, Cosmos’ eco-friendly approach is more than just a bonus; it’s a necessity. Add in its strong community support and growing list of partnerships, and it’s clear why Cosmos remains one of the best altcoins to buy this weekend. Cosmos’ journey hasn’t been without challenges, but its resilience is undeniable. As blockchain adoption grows, Cosmos’ role as the connective tissue of the crypto world becomes even more critical. For investors seeking a balance of innovation and stability, $ATOM is a no-brainer. Filecoin ($FIL): The Decentralised Storage King When it comes to data storage, Filecoin is the boss. Launched in 2017, Filecoin revolutionised how we think about digital storage by decentralising it. Instead of relying on giants like Amazon Web Services or Google Cloud, Filecoin leverages blockchain to create a network of independent storage providers. The result? Lower costs, higher security, and a fairer playing field. Filecoin’s native token, $FIL, is the grease that keeps this machine running. Users pay $FIL to store their data, while providers earn it by offering space. It’s a simple yet ingenious model that’s been a hit with both tech enthusiasts and investors. Over the years, Filecoin has grown into one of the most trusted names in decentralised storage, making it a go-to alternative for those looking to hedge against traditional investments. What makes Filecoin particularly exciting right now is its focus on scaling. As more companies and individuals seek secure, decentralised solutions, Filecoin’s network is poised for exponential growth. And let’s not forget its partnerships. From collaborations with NFT platforms to integrations with DeFi projects, Filecoin proves that storage isn’t just a backend necessity; it’s a critical piece of the Web3 puzzle. The rise of data-intensive applications like AI and the metaverse is another tailwind for Filecoin. Imagine a future where these technologies rely on decentralised storage networks to ensure security and scalability. Filecoin isn’t just preparing for that future; it’s building it. Investing in Filecoin isn’t just about betting on a token; it’s about believing in a future where data is free from corporate control. With $FIL trading at attractive levels, there’s never been a better time to add it to your portfolio. After all, who wouldn’t want a piece of the decentralised data revolution? Conclusion: Why These Altcoins Should Be on Your Radar Each project—Qubetics, Cosmos, and Filecoin—brings something unique. Whether it’s Qubetics’ presale buzz, Cosmos’ seamless blockchain integration, or Filecoin’s game-changing approach to storage, there’s no shortage of reasons to get excited. And with the crypto market heating up, these are undoubtedly the best altcoins to buy this weekend. But here’s the kicker: timing is everything. Qubetics is still in its presale, making it a high-risk, high-reward play. Cosmos and Filecoin, on the other hand, offer stability and proven track records. These coins have covered you whether you’re looking for explosive growth or a safe haven. So what are you waiting for? Dive in, do your research, and make your move. The future of finance is here, and it’s looking bright. Qubetics: https://qubetics.com Telegram: https://t.me/qubetics Twitter: https://x.com/qubetics Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.Surveillance tech advances by Biden could aid in Trump's promised crackdown on immigrationRoss Stores Reports Third Quarter Earnings, Updates Fourth Quarter GuidanceSuper Micro Computer ( SMCI 11.62% ) shareholders have been through a whirlwind lately. While the stock is up 1,480% in the last two years, it has also fallen over 70% from its record high in the last eight months. As one of Nvidia 's largest partners, the server maker should benefit as demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure increases, but Supermicro has also been accused of accounting manipulation. Among the 12 analysts who follow the company, the median 12-month price target of $30.50 per share implies an 8% downside from its current share price of $33. That means six analysts think the stock will fall more than 8% in the next year. Additionally, 19 analysts followed Supermicro three months ago, meaning seven have recently discontinued coverage. Wall Street is clearly shying away from the company. Here are the important details. The bull case: Supermicro is a leading supplier of AI servers Super Micro Computer builds servers, including full server racks equipped with storage and networking that provide customers with a turnkey solution for data center infrastructure. Its internal manufacturing capabilities and "building block" approach to product development let it bring new technologies to market more quickly than its competitors, often by two to six months. Indeed, earlier this year, Rosenblatt analyst Hans Mosesmann wrote, "Super Micro has developed a model that is very, very quick to market. They usually have the widest portfolio of products when a new product comes out." Those advantages have helped Supermicro secure a leadership position in AI servers, a market forecast to grow at 30% annually through 2033, according to Statista. Importantly, Supermicro is also the top supplier of direct liquid cooling (DLC) systems, which could help the company strengthen its position in AI servers. DLC systems reduce data center power consumption by 40% and occupy 80% less space than traditional air-cooled systems. AI servers generate more heat than general-purpose servers, so demand for DLC systems is expected to rise quickly. Indeed, while less than 1% of data centers have historically used liquid cooling, Supermicro estimates 15% (and maybe as many as 30%) of new data center installations will use liquid cooling in the next two years, and the company says it is positioned to "capture the majority share of that growth." The bear case: Supermicro is beset by problems As mentioned, while Supermicro shares are up 1,480% in the last two years, the stock has also nosedived more than 70% from its record high in the last eight months. Below is a month-by-month timeline detailing the events that led to that rapid decline in value. August 2024: Short-seller Hindenburg Research published a report accusing Supermicro of accounting violations, including improper revenue recognition, undisclosed related party transactions, and sanctions evasion. Subsequently, Supermicro delayed filing its Form 10-K for fiscal 2024 , but CEO Charles Liang said the Hindenburg report contained "false or inaccurate statements." September 2024: The Wall Street Journal reported that Supermicro was being probed by the Justice Department after a former employee filed a lawsuit accusing the company of accounting violations, some of which were mentioned in the Hindenburg report. Supermicro also got a letter of noncompliance from the Nasdaq Exchange , saying it had 60 days to file its 10-K or submit a plan to restore compliance. October 2024: Supermicro's auditor, Ernst & Young, resigned. "We are resigning due to information that has recently come to our attention which has led us to no longer be able to rely on management's and the Audit Committee's representations," the company wrote in its resignation letter. Ernst & Young also said it was "unwilling to be associated with the financial statements prepared by management." November 2024: Supermicro delayed its Form 10-Q for the first quarter of fiscal 2025. But the company hired BDO as its new auditor and submitted a compliance plan to Nasdaq before the deadline, saying it would become current with its filings in a timely manner. Now, the Nasdaq must either approve or reject that plan. The situation is even more complicated than what I've just described because Supermicro was accused of similar accounting violations in the past. At that time, the company filed its Form 10-K for fiscal 2017 almost two years late and was fined $17.5 million by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) . Supermicro was also delisted from the Nasdaq Exchange for about 18 months, though shares advanced 73% during that period anyway. Investors should avoid Supermicro stock right now Supermicro shares could soar if the wrongdoings outlined by Hindenburg are found to be inaccurate and then nothing comes of the Justice Department probe. But investors should be at least a little skeptical, given that the SEC has fined the company for similar violations in the past, and Hindenburg says Supermicro has rehired three senior employees involved in the previous scandal. In that context, I think prospective investors should avoid this stock right now. There are simply too many unknowns to make an educated decision, which probably explains why seven out of 19 Wall Street analysts discontinued coverage during the last three months. It may also explain why the remaining 12 analysts have set the stock with a median price target that implies an 8% downside.
2 Oregon men die from exposure in a forest after they went out to look for SasquatchTHIS is the incredible moment Ukraine unleashes a shotgun-wielding drone to hunt down and destroy Russians on the battlefield. The impressive footage, captured from the frontlines, shows the powerful mounted UAVs taking on Russian drones single-handedly and blasting them out of the sky with ease. Foundation for Assistance to Defenders of Ukraine shared a compilation of the drone-on-drone executions on social media. The minute-long clip shows a small Russian aircraft soaring above a Ukrainian warzone before being ruthlessly targeted. In the insane video a Ukrainian drone stealthily appears above its Russian counterpart with two shotguns attached to its front. The operator takes aim and with near pinpoint accuracy fires - launching a deathly bullet straight to the Russian drone. A quick flash of light erupts as the shotgun strikes the drone and sends it tumbling to the ground. Another clips sees the Russian war weapon approaching the destructive new invention over a snowy battleground. Within seconds, a shotgun bullet is fired and splits Vladimir Putin's drone in two as it plunges downwards and smashes off the ground. A third video shows a pair of drones battling it out in a wild chase. The shotgun-wielding Ukrainian can be seen hunting down the fleeing Russian drone. After a long, daring flight the flashy new Ukrainian weapon takes charge and finds its target with a devastating strike. The compilation of videos were followed by the caption: "For the first time on video - hard drive drones shoot down other drones with shotguns. "Defenders of Ukraine are testing the developments of Lesia UA technology." Ukraine's use of drone warfare has kept Putin's troops at bay since the conflict started almost three years ago. They have repeatedly used impressive aerial tactics to strike key Russian infrastructure and to take out incoming fighters with ease. One of the most advanced drones being used is the dragon drone which spews flesh-melting thermite onto Russian bunkers. Terrifying footage has shown the drone beginning to spew the thermite across a trench and into the entrance of a snowy Russian bunker . Anyone caught underneath the iron oxide and aluminium combination would be burned to death. After shooting the lethal mixture for around 20 seconds the drone catches fire itself and flies inside the bunker hoping to take Russian soldiers with it. Kyiv has been deploying the menacing weapon over tree lines and forests - attacking Russia with scorching hot molten. Earlier this month footage also showed Ukrainian drones equipped with machine guns being used for the first time to ambush Russian troops. Ukrainian soldiers fitted a Wild Hornets drone with an AK-47 assault rifle and used it to fire on opposition forces . It comes just days after Russian despot Putin admitted he's open for peace talks with Ukraine again - but only "if it comes to that". The ageing tyrant welcomed Slovakian PM Robert Fico to the Kremlin before Christmas and claims the pair spoke about using Slovakia as a negotiating headquarters to help solve the nearly three-year conflict. Despite the comments, Putin launched a brutal missile and drone barrage on Ukraine in a horror Christmas massacre. Over 70 missiles, including ballistic projectiles, and more than 100 kamikaze drones were launched in a coordinated assault early on December 25. The attack disrupted festive celebrations across Ukraine, with families forced to take shelter in metro stations as air raid sirens wailed across the country.
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ROSEN, NATIONALLY REGARDED INVESTOR COUNSEL, Encourages Kyverna Therapeutics, Inc. Investors To Secure Counsel Before Important Deadline In Securities Class Action – KYTXShare this Story : 4.1 magnitude earthquake in west Quebec felt in Ottawa Copy Link Email X Reddit LinkedIn Tumblr Breadcrumb Trail Links News Local News 4.1 magnitude earthquake in west Quebec felt in Ottawa Get the latest from Marlo Glass straight to your inbox Sign Up Author of the article: Marlo Glass Published Dec 29, 2024 • 1 minute read Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account. Article content No damage was reported after an 4.1 magnitude earthquake rumbled through western Quebec on the morning of Dec. 29. According to Earthquakes Canada, the quake’s epicentre was 75 kilometres northwest of Maniwaki, and it happened at 8:02 a.m. Earthquakes Canada received reports from people feeling the earthquake from Pembroke to Montreal, and as far south as Brockville, with dozens in the national capital region also filing reports of rumblings. A few hours after the earthquake, Earthquakes Canada had received nearly 1,800 reports. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account Email Address Continue or View more offers If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, online access is included in your subscription. Activate your Online Access Now Article content Natural Resources Canada’s “Did you feel it?” report is available online. Natural Resources Canada has also developed the Earthquake Early Warning System to give people a warning when an earthquake is imminent. The system launched in British Columbia in early 2024, and is expected to be used in Ontario and Quebec by spring 2025. The early warning system works by detecting the first early energy waves to radiate from the earthquake, which rarely causes damage. Sensors transmit that information to data centres, where computers calculate the quake’s location and magnitude. This method can warn local residents before the arrival of the quake’s secondary energy waves, which brings on strong shaking and can cause the most damage. Recipients of an alert should assume “strong shaking” is imminent. A fact sheet about the warning system says it does not predict earthquakes, but rather detects it immediately as it occurs. Low-level earthquakes that bring on light shaking won’t produce alerts, the NRC says, but public alerts will be sent for earthquakes estimated to be at or above a magnitude 5. “ EEW does not remove the need for other earthquake risk reduction, preparedness, and response measures, such as constructing to building code requirements,” the NRC says. Preventative measures include stopping traffic into bridges or tunnels, halting trains, diverting planes, securing hard drives and readying generators for potential power outages, as well as urging people to “drop, cover, and hold on” while indoors, among other precautions. Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : 4.1 magnitude earthquake in west Quebec felt in Ottawa Copy Link Email X Reddit LinkedIn Tumblr Comments You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments. Create an Account Sign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Trending GameDay: Ottawa Senators face brilliant goalie they gave away, Minnesota Wild Ottawa Senators World juniors: Reinforcements on way as Canada moves forward from devastating loss to Latvia World Juniors Canadian military fears maintenance issues will plague equipment sent to Latvia Defence Watch OPP stop on Hwy 417 yields $28,000 in cash and suspected drugs Local News All of Peter Hum's Ottawa restaurant reviews this year Life Read Next Latest National Stories Featured Local SavingsThe decision by Tesco, Musgrave and the BWG Group came after a woman who said Mr McGregor raped her won a civil claim for damages against him. Nikita Hand, who accused the sportsman of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018, won her claim against him for damages in a case at the High Court in the Irish capital. In a statement, a spokesman for Musgrave said: “Musgrave can confirm these products are no longer available to our store network.” The network includes SuperValu, Centra, Daybreak and Mace. A Tesco spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we are removing Proper No Twelve Whiskey from sale in Tesco stores and online.” A spokesperson for BWG Group said: “The products are no longer listed for distribution across our network of Spar, Eurospar, Mace, Londis and XL stores, including Appleby Westward which operates over 300 Spar stores in the south west of England.” It is understood that other retail outlets including Costcutter and Carry Out will also stop stocking products linked to Mr McGregor. He and some of his business partners sold their majority stake in the Proper Number Twelve Irish whiskey brand. He was reported to have been paid more than £103 million from the sale to Proximo Spirits in 2021. On Monday, a popular video game developer decided to pull content featuring the MMA fighter. The Irish athlete has featured in multiple video games, including voice-acting a character bearing his likeness in additional downloadable content in the Hitman series. Mr McGregor’s character featured as a target for the player-controlled assassin in the game. IO Interactive, the Danish developer and publisher of Hitman, said in a statement: “In light of the recent court ruling regarding Conor McGregor, IO Interactive has made the decision to cease its collaboration with the athlete, effective immediately. “We take this matter very seriously and cannot ignore its implications. “Consequently, we will begin removing all content featuring Mr McGregor from our storefronts starting today.” Last Friday, the High Court jury awarded damages amounting to 248,603.60 euros (around £206,000) to Ms Hand. Mr McGregor made no comment as he left court but later posted on social media that he intended to appeal against the decision.
NEW YORK — Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, has died. He was 83. Chuck Woolery hosts a special premiere of the "$250,000 Game Show Spectacular" at the Las Vegas Hilton on Oct. 13, 2007, in Las Vegas. Mark Young, Woolery's podcast co-host and friend, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, present. “Chuck was a dear friend and brother and a tremendous man of faith, life will not be the same without him,” Young wrote. Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978. In 1983, Woolery began an 11-year run as host of TV’s “Love Connection,” for which he coined the phrase, “We’ll be back in two minutes and two seconds,” a two-fingered signature dubbed the “2 and 2.” In 1984, he hosted TV’s “Scrabble,” simultaneously hosting two game shows on TV until 1990. “Love Connection,” which aired long before the dawn of dating apps, had a premise that featured either a single man or single woman who would watch audition tapes of three potential mates and then pick one for a date. A couple of weeks after the date, the guest would sit with Woolery in front of a studio audience and tell everybody about the date. The audience would vote on the three contestants, and if the audience agreed with the guest’s choice, “Love Connection” would offer to pay for a second date. Woolery told The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2003 that his favorite set of lovebirds was a man aged 91 and a woman aged 87. "She had so much eye makeup on, she looked like a stolen Corvette. He was so old he said, ‘I remember wagon trains.’ The poor guy. She took him on a balloon ride.” Other career highlights included hosting the shows “Lingo," “Greed” and “The Chuck Woolery Show,” as well as hosting the short-lived syndicated revival of “The Dating Game” from 1998 to 2000 and an ill-fated 1991 talk show. In 1992, he played himself in two episodes of TV’s “Melrose Place.” Woolery became the subject of the Game Show Network’s first attempt at a reality show, “Chuck Woolery: Naturally Stoned,” which premiered in 2003. It shared the title of the pop song in 1968 by Woolery and his rock group, the Avant-Garde. It lasted six episode and was panned by critics. Woolery began his TV career at a show that has become a mainstay. Although most associated with Pat Sajak and Vanna White, “Wheel of Fortune” debuted Jan. 6, 1975, on NBC with Woolery welcoming contestants and the audience. Woolery, then 33, was trying to make it in Nashville as a singer. “Wheel of Fortune” started life as “Shopper’s Bazaar,” incorporating Hangman-style puzzles and a roulette wheel. After Woolery appeared on “The Merv Griffin Show” singing “Delta Dawn,” Merv Griffin asked him to host the new show with Susan Stafford. “I had an interview that stretched to 15, 20 minutes,” Woolery told The New York Times in 2003. “After the show, when Merv asked if I wanted to do a game show, I thought, ‘Great, a guy with a bad jacket and an equally bad mustache who doesn’t care what you have to say — that’s the guy I want to be.’” NBC initially passed, but they retooled it as “Wheel of Fortune” and got the green light. After a few years, Woolery demanded a raise to $500,000 a year, or what host Peter Marshall was making on “Hollywood Squares.” Griffin balked and replaced Woolery with weather reporter Pat Sajak. “Both Chuck and Susie did a fine job, and ‘Wheel’ did well enough on NBC, although it never approached the kind of ratings success that ‘Jeopardy!’ achieved in its heyday,” Griffin said in “Merv: Making the Good Life Last,” an autobiography from the 2000s co-written by David Bender. Woolery earned an Emmy nod as host. Born in Ashland, Kentucky, Woolery served in the U.S. Navy before attending college. He played double bass in a folk trio, then formed the psychedelic rock duo The Avant-Garde in 1967 while working as a truck driver to support himself as a musician. The Avant-Garde, which toured in a refitted Cadillac hearse, had the Top 40 hit “Naturally Stoned,” with Woolery singing, “When I put my mind on you alone/I can get a good sensation/Feel like I’m naturally stoned.” After The Avant-Garde broke up, Woolery released his debut solo single “I’ve Been Wrong” in 1969 and several more singles with Columbia before transitioning to country music by the 1970s. He released two solo singles, “Forgive My Heart” and “Love Me, Love Me.” Woolery wrote or co-wrote songs for himself and everyone from Pat Boone to Tammy Wynette. On Wynette’s 1971 album “We Sure Can Love Each Other,” Woolery wrote “The Joys of Being a Woman” with lyrics including “See our baby on the swing/Hear her laugh, hear her scream.” After his TV career ended, Woolery went into podcasting. In an interview with The New York Times, he called himself a gun-rights activist and described himself as a conservative libertarian and constitutionalist. He said he hadn’t revealed his politics in liberal Hollywood for fear of retribution. He teamed up with Mark Young in 2014 for the podcast “Blunt Force Truth” and soon became a full supporter of Donald Trump while arguing minorities don’t need civil rights and causing a firestorm by tweeting an antisemitic comment linking Soviet Communists to Judaism. “President Obama’s popularity is a fantasy only held by him and his dwindling legion of juice-box-drinking, anxiety-dog-hugging, safe-space-hiding snowflakes,” he said. Woolery also was active online, retweeting articles from Conservative Brief, insisting Democrats were trying to install a system of Marxism and spreading headlines such as “Impeach him! Devastating photo of Joe Biden leaks.” During the early stages of the pandemic, Woolery initially accused medical professionals and Democrats of lying about the virus in an effort to hurt the economy and Trump’s chances for reelection to the presidency. “The most outrageous lies are the ones about COVID-19. Everyone is lying. The CDC, media, Democrats, our doctors, not all but most, that we are told to trust. I think it’s all about the election and keeping the economy from coming back, which is about the election. I’m sick of it,” Woolery wrote in July 2020. Trump retweeted that post to his 83 million followers. By the end of the month, nearly 4.5 million Americans had been infected with COVID-19 and more than 150,000 had died. Just days later, Woolery changed his stance, announcing his son had contracted COVID-19. “To further clarify and add perspective, COVID-19 is real and it is here. My son tested positive for the virus, and I feel for of those suffering and especially for those who have lost loved ones,” Woolery posted before his account was deleted. Woolery later explained on his podcast that he never called COVID-19 “a hoax” or said “it’s not real,” just that “we’ve been lied to.” Woolery also said it was “an honor to have your president retweet what your thoughts are and think it’s important enough to do that.” In addition to his wife, Woolery is survived by his sons Michael and Sean and his daughter Melissa, Young said. Germany players celebrate after Andreas Brehme, left on ground, scores the winning goal in the World Cup soccer final match against Argentina, in the Olympic Stadium, in Rome, July 8, 1990. Andreas Brehme, who scored the only goal as West Germany beat Argentina to win the 1990 World Cup final, died Feb. 20, 2024. He was 63. Brian Mulroney, the former prime minister of Canada, listens during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the Canada-U.S.-Mexico relationship, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Mulroney died at the age of 84 on Feb. 29, 2024. “The Godfather” producer Albert S. Ruddy died May 25 at 94. The Canadian-born producer and writer won Oscars for “The Godfather” and “Million Dollar Baby,” developed the raucous prison-sports comedy “The Longest Yard” and helped create the hit sitcom “Hogan’s Heroes." A spokesperson says Ruddy died Saturday at the UCLA Medical Center. Ruddy produced more than 30 movies and was on hand for the very top and the very bottom. “The Godfather” and “Million Dollar Baby” were box office hits and winners of best picture Oscars. But Ruddy also helped give us “Cannonball Run II” and “Megaforce,” nominees for Golden Raspberry awards for worst movie of the year. Larry Allen, one of the most dominant offensive linemen in the NFL during a 12-year career spent mostly with the Dallas Cowboys, died June 2. He was 52. The Cowboys say Allen died suddenly on Sunday while on vacation with his family in Mexico. Allen was named an All-Pro six consecutive years from 1996-2001 and was inducted into the Pro Football of Hall of Fame in 2013. He said few words but let his blocking do the talking. Allen once bench-pressed 700 pounds and had the speed to chase down opposing running backs. Bob Hope and Janis Paige hug during the annual Christmas show in Saigon, Vietnam, Dec. 25, 1964. Paige, a popular actor in Hollywood and in Broadway musicals and comedies who danced with Fred Astaire, toured with Bob Hope and continued to perform into her 80s, died Sunday, June 2, 2024, of natural causes at her Los Angeles home, longtime friend Stuart Lampert said Monday, June 3. Parnelli Jones, the 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner, died June 4 at Torrance Memorial Medical Center after a battle with Parkinson’s disease, his son said. Jones was 90. At the time of his death, Jones was the oldest living winner of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Rufus Parnell Jones was born in Texarkana, Arkansas, in 1933 but moved to Torrance as a young child and never left. It was there that he became “Parnelli” because his given name of Rufus was too well known for him to compete without locals knowing that he wasn’t old enough to race. Boston Celtics' John Havlicek (17) is defended by Philadelphia 76ers' Chet Walker (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball playoff game April 14, 1968, in Boston. Walker, a seven-time All-Star forward who helped Wilt Chamberlain and the 76ers win the 1967 NBA title, died June 8. He was 84. The National Basketball Players Association confirmed Walker's death, according to NBA.com . The 76ers, Chicago Bulls and National Basketball Retired Players Association also extended their condolences on social media on Saturday, June 8, 2024. The Rev. James Lawson Jr. speaks Sept. 17, 2015, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Lawson Jr., an apostle of nonviolent protest who schooled activists to withstand brutal reactions from white authorities as the Civil Rights Movement gained traction, has died, his family said Monday. He was 95. His family said Lawson died on Sunday after a short illness in Los Angeles, where he spent decades working as a pastor, labor movement organizer and university professor. Lawson was a close adviser to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who called him “the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in the world.” Lawson met King in 1957, after spending three years in India soaking up knowledge about Mohandas K. Gandhi’s independence movement. King would travel to India himself two years later, but at the time, he had only read about Gandhi in books. Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Jerry West, representing the 1960 USA Olympic Team, is seen Aug. 13, 2010, during the enshrinement news conference at the Hall of Fame Museum in Springfield, Mass. Jerry West, who was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive, and whose silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, died June 12, the Los Angeles Clippers announced. He was 86. West, nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” for his late-game exploits as a player, was an NBA champion who went into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1980 and again as a member of the gold medal-winning 1960 U.S. Olympic Team in 2010. He will be enshrined for a third time later this year as a contributor, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called West “one of the greatest executives in sports history.” Actor and director Ron Simons, seen Jan. 23, 2011, during the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, died June 12. Simons turned into a formidable screen and stage producer, winning four Tony Awards and having several films selected at the Sundance Film Festival. He won Tonys for producing “Porgy and Bess,” “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” and “Jitney.” He also co-produced “Hughie,” with Forest Whitaker, “The Gin Game,” starring Cicely Tyson and James Earl Jones, “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations,” an all-Black production of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” the revival of "for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf" and the original work “Thoughts of a Colored Man.” He was in the films “27 Dresses” and “Mystery Team,” as well as on the small screen in “The Resident,” “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and “Law & Order: SVU.” Bob Schul of West Milton, Ohio, hits the tape Oct. 18, 1964, to win the 5,000 meter run at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Schul, the only American distance runner to win the 5,000 meters at the Olympics, died June 16. He was 86. His death was announced by Miami University in Ohio , where Schul shined on the track and was inducted into the school’s hall of fame in 1973. Schul predicted gold leading into the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and followed through with his promise. On a rainy day in Japan, he finished the final lap in a blistering 54.8 seconds to sprint to the win. His white shorts were covered in mud at the finish. He was inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1991. He also helped write a book called “In the Long Run.” San Francisco Giants superstar Willie Mays poses for a photo during baseball spring training in 1972. Mays, the electrifying “Say Hey Kid” whose singular combination of talent, drive and exuberance made him one of baseball’s greatest and most beloved players, died June 18. He was 93. The center fielder, who began his professional career in the Negro Leagues in 1948, had been baseball’s oldest living Hall of Famer. He was voted into the Hall in 1979, his first year of eligibility, and in 1999 followed only Babe Ruth on The Sporting News’ list of the game’s top stars. The Giants retired his uniform number, 24, and set their AT&T Park in San Francisco on Willie Mays Plaza. Mays died two days before a game between the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals to honor the Negro Leagues at Rickwood Field in Birmingham , Alabama. Over 23 major league seasons, virtually all with the New York/San Francisco Giants but also including one in the Negro Leagues, Mays batted .301, hit 660 home runs, totaled 3,293 hits, scored more than 2,000 runs and won 12 Gold Gloves. He was Rookie of the Year in 1951, twice was named the Most Valuable Player and finished in the top 10 for the MVP 10 other times. His lightning sprint and over-the-shoulder grab of an apparent extra base hit in the 1954 World Series remains the most celebrated defensive play in baseball history. For millions in the 1950s and ’60s and after, the smiling ballplayer with the friendly, high-pitched voice was a signature athlete and showman during an era when baseball was still the signature pastime. Awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2015, Mays left his fans with countless memories. But a single feat served to capture his magic — one so untoppable it was simply called “The Catch.” Actor Donald Sutherland appears Oct. 13, 2017, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif. Sutherland, the Canadian actor whose wry, arrestingly off-kilter screen presence spanned more than half a century of films from “M.A.S.H.” to “The Hunger Games,” died June 20. He was 88. Kiefer Sutherland said on X he believed his father was one of the most important actors in the history of film: “Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that.” The tall and gaunt Sutherland, who flashed a grin that could be sweet or diabolical, was known for offbeat characters like Hawkeye Pierce in Robert Altman's "M.A.S.H.," the hippie tank commander in "Kelly's Heroes" and the stoned professor in "Animal House." Before transitioning into a long career as a respected character actor, Sutherland epitomized the unpredictable, antiestablishment cinema of the 1970s. He never stopped working, appearing in nearly 200 films and series. Over the decades, Sutherland showed his range in more buttoned-down — but still eccentric — roles in Robert Redford's "Ordinary People" and Oliver Stone's "JFK." More, recently, he starred in the “Hunger Games” films. A memoir, “Made Up, But Still True,” is due out in November. Actor Bill Cobbs, a cast member in "Get Low," arrives July 27, 2010, at the premiere of the film in Beverly Hills, Calif. Cobbs, the veteran character actor who became a ubiquitous and sage screen presence as an older man, died June 25. He was 90. A Cleveland native, Cobbs acted in such films as “The Hudsucker Proxy,” “The Bodyguard” and “Night at the Museum.” He made his first big-screen appearance in a fleeting role in 1974's “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three." He became a lifelong actor with some 200 film and TV credits. The lion share of those came in his 50s, 60s, and 70s, as filmmakers and TV producers turned to him again and again to imbue small but pivotal parts with a wizened and worn soulfulness. Cobbs appeared on television shows including “The Sopranos," “The West Wing,” “Sesame Street” and “Good Times.” He was Whitney Houston's manager in “The Bodyguard” (1992), the mystical clock man of the Coen brothers' “The Hudsucker Proxy” (1994) and the doctor of John Sayles' “Sunshine State” (2002). He played the coach in “Air Bud” (1997), the security guard in “Night at the Museum” (2006) and the father on “The Gregory Hines Show." Cobbs rarely got the kinds of major parts that stand out and win awards. Instead, Cobbs was a familiar and memorable everyman who left an impression on audiences, regardless of screen time. He won a Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding limited performance in a daytime program for the series “Dino Dana” in 2020. Independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman speaks with the media Nov. 7, 2009, at his campaign headquarters in Austin, Texas. The singer, songwriter, satirist and novelist, who led the alt-country band Texas Jewboys, toured with Bob Dylan, sang with Willie Nelson, and dabbled in politics with campaigns for Texas governor and other statewide offices, died June 27. He was 79 and had suffered from Parkinson's disease. Often called “The Kinkster" and sporting sideburns, a thick mustache and cowboy hat, Friedman earned a cult following and reputation as a provocateur throughout his career across musical and literary genres. In the 1970s, his satirical country band Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys wrote songs with titles such as “They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore” and “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in Bed.” Friedman joined part of Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue tour in 1976. By the 1980s, Friedman was writing crime novels that often included a version of himself, and he wrote a column for Texas Monthly magazine in the 2000s. Friedman's run at politics brought his brand of irreverence to the serious world of public policy. In 2006, Friedman ran for governor as an independent in a five-way race that included incumbent Republican Rick Perry. Friedman launched his campaign against the backdrop of the Alamo. Martin Mull participates in "The Cool Kids" panel during the Fox Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour on Aug. 2, 2018, at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Mull, whose droll, esoteric comedy and acting made him a hip sensation in the 1970s and later a beloved guest star on sitcoms including “Roseanne” and “Arrested Development,” died June 28. He was 80. Mull, who was also a guitarist and painter, came to national fame with a recurring role on the Norman Lear-created satirical soap opera “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” and the starring role in its spinoff, “Fernwood Tonight." His first foray into show business was as a songwriter, penning the 1970 semi-hit “A Girl Named Johnny Cash” for singer Jane Morgan. He would combine music and comedy in an act that he brought to hip Hollywood clubs in the 1970s. Mull often played slightly sleazy, somewhat slimy and often smarmy characters as he did as Teri Garr's boss and Michael Keaton's foe in 1983's “Mr. Mom.” He played Colonel Mustard in the 1985 movie adaptation of the board game “Clue,” which, like many things Mull appeared in, has become a cult classic. The 1980s also brought what many thought was his best work, “A History of White People in America,” a mockumentary that first aired on Cinemax. Mull co-created the show and starred as a “60 Minutes” style investigative reporter investigating all things milquetoast and mundane. Willard was again a co-star. In the 1990s he was best known for his recurring role on several seasons on “Roseanne,” in which he played a warmer, less sleazy boss to the title character, an openly gay man whose partner was played by Willard, who died in 2020 . Mull would later play private eye Gene Parmesan on “Arrested Development,” a cult-classic character on a cult-classic show, and would be nominated for an Emmy, his first, in 2016 for a guest run on “Veep.” Screenwriter Robert Towne poses at The Regency Hotel, March 7, 2006, in New York. Towne, the Oscar-winning screenplay writer of "Shampoo," "The Last Detail" and other acclaimed films whose work on "Chinatown" became a model of the art form and helped define the jaded allure of his native Los Angeles, died Monday, July 1, 2024, surrounded by family at his home in Los Angeles, said publicist Carri McClure. She declined to comment on any cause of death. Vic Seixas of the United States backhands a volley from Denmark's Jurgen Ulrich in the first round of men's singles match at Wimbledon, England, June 27, 1967. Vic Seixas, a Wimbledon winner and tennis Hall of Famer who was the oldest living Grand Slam champion, has died July 5 at the age of 100. The International Tennis Hall of Fame announced Seixas’ death on Saturday July 6, 2024, based on confirmation from his daughter Tori. In this June 30, 2020, file photo, Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., speaks to reporters following a GOP policy meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington. Former Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma died July 9. He was 89. The family says in a statement that the Republican had a stroke during the July Fourth holiday and died Tuesday morning. Inhofe was a powerful fixture in state politics for decades. He doubted that climate change was caused by human activity, calling the theory “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.” As Oklahoma’s senior U.S. senator, he was a staunch supporter of the state’s military installations. He was elected to a fifth Senate term in 2020 and stepped down in early 2023. The Oak Ridge Boys, from left, Joe Bonsall, Richard Sterban, Duane Allen and William Lee Golden hold their awards for Top Vocal Group and Best Album of the Year for "Ya'll Come Back Saloon", during the 14th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Los Angeles, Calif., May 3, 1979. Bonsall died on July 9, 2024, from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Hendersonville, Tenn. He was 76. A Philadelphia native and resident of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Bonsall joined the Oak Ridge Boys in 1973, which originally formed in the 1940s. He saw the band through its golden period in the '80s and beyond, which included their signature 1981 song “Elvira.” The hit marked a massive crossover moment for the group, reaching No. 1 on the country chart and No. 5 on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100. The group is also known for such hits as 1982’s “Bobbie Sue." Shelley Duvall poses for photographers at the 30th Cannes Film Festival in France, May 27, 1977. Duvall, whose wide-eyed, winsome presence was a mainstay in the films of Robert Altman and who co-starred in Stanley Kubrick's “The Shining,” died July 11. She was 75. Dr. Ruth Westheimer holds a copy of her book "Sex for Dummies" at the International Frankfurt Book Fair 'Frankfurter Buchmesse' in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007. Westheimer, the sex therapist who became a pop icon, media star and best-selling author through her frank talk about once-taboo bedroom topics, died on July 12, 2024. She was 96. Richard Simmons sits for a portrait in Los Angeles, June 23, 1982. Simmons, a fitness guru who urged the overweight to exercise and eat better, died July 13 at the age of 76. Simmons was a court jester of physical fitness who built a mini-empire in his trademark tank tops and short shorts by urging the overweight to exercise and eat better. Simmons was a former 268-pound teen who shared his hard-won weight loss tips as the host of the Emmy-winning daytime “Richard Simmons Show" and the “Sweatin' to the Oldies” line of exercise videos, which became a cultural phenomenon. Former NFL receiver Jacoby Jones died July 14 at age 40. Jones' 108-yard kickoff return in 2013 remains the longest touchdown in Super Bowl history. The Houston Texans were Jones’ team for the first five seasons of his career. They announced his death on Sunday. In a statement released by the NFL Players Association, his family said he died at his home in New Orleans. A cause of death was not given. Jones played from 2007-15 for the Texans, Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers. He made several huge plays for the Ravens during their most recent Super Bowl title season, including that kick return. The "Beverly Hills, 90210" star whose life and career were roiled by tabloid stories, Shannen Doherty died July 13 at 53. Doherty's publicist said the actor died Saturday following years with breast cancer. Catapulted to fame as Brenda in “Beverly Hills, 90210,” she worked in big-screen films including "Mallrats" and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and in TV movies including "A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story," in which she played the "Gone with the Wind" author. Doherty co-starred with Holly Marie Combs and Alyssa Milano in the series “Charmed” from 1998-2001; appeared in the “90210” sequel series seven years later and competed on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2010. Actor James Sikking poses for a photograph at the Los Angeles gala celebrating the 20th anniversary of the National Organization for Women, Dec. 1, 1986. Sikking, who starred as a hardened police lieutenant on “Hill Street Blues” and as the titular character's kindhearted dad on “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” died July 13 of complications from dementia, his publicist Cynthia Snyder said in a statement. He was 90. Pat Williams chats with media before the 2004 NBA draft in Orlando, Fla. Williams, a co-founder of the Orlando Magic and someone who spent more than a half-century working within the NBA, died July 17 from complications related to viral pneumonia. The team announced the death Wednesday. Williams was 84. He started his NBA career as business manager of the Philadelphia 76ers in 1968, then had stints as general manager of the Chicago Bulls, the Atlanta Hawks and the 76ers — helping that franchise win a title in 1983. Williams was later involved in starting the process of bringing an NBA team to Orlando. The league’s board of governors granted an expansion franchise in 1987, and the team began play in 1989. Lou Dobbs speaks Feb. 24, 2017, at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Oxon Hill, Md. Dobbs, the conservative political pundit and veteran cable TV host who was a founding anchor for CNN and later was a nightly presence on Fox Business Network for more than a decade, died July 18. He was 78. His death was announced in a post on his official X account, which called him a “fighter till the very end – fighting for what mattered to him the most, God, his family and the country.” He hosted “Lou Dobbs Tonight” on Fox from 2011 to 2021, following two separate stints at CNN. No cause of death was given. Bob Newhart, center, poses with members of the cast and crew of the "Bob Newhart Show," from top left, Marcia Wallace, Bill Daily, Jack Riley, and, Suzanne Pleshette, foreground left, and Dick Martin at TV Land's 35th anniversary tribute to "The Bob Newhart Show" on Sept. 5, 2007, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Newhart has died at age 94. Jerry Digney, Newhart’s publicist, says the actor died July 18 in Los Angeles after a series of short illnesses. The accountant-turned-comedian gained fame with a smash album and became one of the most popular TV stars of his time. Newhart was a Chicago psychologist in “The Bob Newhart Show” in the 1970s and a Vermont innkeeper on “Newhart” in the 1980s. Both shows featured a low-key Newhart surrounded by eccentric characters. The second had a twist ending in its final show — the whole series was revealed to have been a dream by the psychologist he played in the other show. Cheng Pei-pei, a Chinese-born martial arts film actor who starred in Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” died July 17 at age 78. Her family says Cheng, who had been diagnosed with a rare illness with symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease, passed away Wednesday at home surrounded by her loved ones. The Shanghai-born film star became a household name in Hong Kong, once dubbed the Hollywood of the Far East, for her performances in martial arts movies in the 1960s. She played Jade Fox, who uses poisoned needles, in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” which was released in 2000, grossed $128 million in North America and won four Oscars. Abdul “Duke” Fakir holds his life time achievement award backstage at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 8, 2009, in Los Angeles. The last surviving original member of the Four Tops died July 22. Abdul “Duke” Fakir was 88. He was a charter member of the Motown group along with lead singer Levi Stubbs, Renaldo “Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton. Between 1964 and 1967, the Tops had 11 top 20 hits and two No. 1′s: “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” and the operatic classic “Reach Out I’ll Be There.” Other songs, often stories of romantic pain and longing, included “Baby I Need Your Loving,” “Standing in the Shadows of Love,” “Bernadette” and “Just Ask the Lonely.” Sculptress Elizabeth Catlett, left, then-Washington D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt Dixon, center, and then-curator, division of community life, Smithsonian institution Bernice Johnson Reagon chat during the reception at the Candace awards on June 25, 1991 in New York. Reagon, a musician and scholar who used her rich, powerful contralto voice in the service of the American Civil Rights Movement and human rights struggles around the world, died on July 16, 2024, according to her daughter's social media post. She was 81. John Mayall, the British blues musician whose influential band the Bluesbreakers was a training ground for Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood and many other superstars, died July 22. He was 90. He is credited with helping develop the English take on urban, Chicago-style rhythm and blues that played an important role in the blues revival of the late 1960s. A statement on Mayall's official Instagram page says he died Monday at his home in California. Though Mayall never approached the fame of some of his illustrious alumni, he was still performing in his late 80s, pounding out his version of Chicago blues. Erica Ash, an actor and comedian skilled in sketch comedy who starred in the parody series “Mad TV” and “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” has died. She was 46. Her publicist and a statement by her mother, Diann, says Ash died July 28 in Los Angeles of cancer. Ash impersonated Michelle Obama and Condoleeza Rice on “Mad TV,” a Fox sketch series, and was a key performer on the Rosie O’Donnell-created series “The Big Gay Sketch Show.” Her other credits included “Scary Movie V,” “Uncle Drew” and the LeBron James-produced basketball dramedy “Survivor’s Remorse.” On the BET series “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” Ash played the ex-wife of Kevin Hart’s character. Jack Russell, the lead singer of the bluesy '80s metal band Great White whose hits included “Once Bitten Twice Shy” and “Rock Me” and was fronting his band the night 100 people died in a 2003 nightclub fire in Rhode Island, died Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. He was 63. Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez, a Hall of Fame golfer whose antics on the greens and inspiring life story made him among the sport’s most popular players during a long professional career, died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. Susan Wojcicki, the former YouTube chief executive officer and longtime Google executive, died Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, after suffering with non small cell lung cancer for the past two years. She was 56. Frank Selvy, an All-America guard at Furman who scored an NCAA Division I-record 100 points in a game and later played nine NBA seasons, died Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. He was 91. Wallace “Wally” Amos, the creator of the cookie empire that took his name and made it famous and who went on to become a children’s literacy advocate, died Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, from complications with dementia. He was 88. Gena Rowlands, hailed as one of the greatest actors to ever practice the craft and a guiding light in independent cinema as a star in groundbreaking movies by her director husband, John Cassavetes, and who later charmed audiences in her son's tear-jerker “The Notebook,” died Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. She was 94. Peter Marshall, the actor and singer turned game show host who played straight man to the stars for 16 years on “The Hollywood Squares,” died. Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 He was 98. Alain Delon, the internationally acclaimed French actor who embodied both the bad guy and the policeman and made hearts throb around the world, died Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. He was 88. Phil Donahue, whose pioneering daytime talk show launched an indelible television genre that brought success to Oprah Winfrey, Montel Williams, Ellen DeGeneres and many others, died Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, after a long illness. He was 88. Al Attles, a Hall of Famer who coached the 1975 NBA champion Warriors and spent more than six decades with the organization as a player, general manager and most recently team ambassador, died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. He was 87. John Amos, who starred as the family patriarch on the hit 1970s sitcom “Good Times” and earned an Emmy nomination for his role in the seminal 1977 miniseries “Roots,” died Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. He was 84. James Darren, a teen idol who helped ignite the 1960s surfing craze as a charismatic beach boy paired off with Sandra Dee in the hit film “Gidget,” died Monday, Sept. 2, 2024. He was 88. James Earl Jones, who overcame racial prejudice and a severe stutter to become a celebrated icon of stage and screen has died. He was 93. His agent, Barry McPherson, confirmed Jones died Sept. 9 at home. Jones was a pioneering actor who eventually lent his deep, commanding voice to CNN, “The Lion King” and Darth Vader. Working deep into his 80s, he won two Emmys, a Golden Globe, two Tony Awards, a Grammy, the National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors and was given an honorary Oscar and a special Tony for lifetime achievement. In 2022, a Broadway theater was renamed in his honor. Frankie Beverly, who with his band Maze inspired generations of fans with his smooth, soulful voice and lasting anthems including “Before I Let Go,” has died. He was 77. His family said in a post on the band’s website and social media accounts that Beverly died Sept. 10. In the post, which asked for privacy, the family said “he lived his life with a pure soul, as one would say, and for us, no one did it better.” The post did not say his cause of death or where he died. Beverly, whose songs include “Joy and Pain,” “Love is the Key,” and “Southern Girl,” finished his farewell “I Wanna Thank You Tour” in his hometown of Philadelphia in July. Joe Schmidt, the Hall of Fame linebacker who helped the Detroit Lions win NFL championships in 1953 and 1957 and later coached the team, has died. He was 92. The Lions said family informed the team Schmidt died Sept. 11. A cause of death was not provided. One of pro football’s first great middle linebackers, Schmidt played his entire NFL career with the Lions from 1953-65. An eight-time All-Pro, he was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973 and the college football version in 2000. Born in Pittsburgh, Schmidt played college football in his hometown at Pitt. Chad McQueen, an actor known for his performances in the “Karate Kid” movies and the son of the late actor and racer Steve McQueen, died Sep. 11. His lawyer confirmed his death at age 63. McQueen's family shared a statement on social media saying he lived a life “filled with love and dedication.” McQueen was a professional race car driver, like his father, and competed in the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona races. He is survived by his wife Jeanie and three children, Chase, Madison and Steven, who is an actor best known for “The Vampire Diaries.” Tito Jackson, one of the brothers who made up the beloved pop group the Jackson 5, died at age 70 on Sept. 15. Jackson was the third of nine children, including global superstars Michael and Janet. The Jackson 5 included brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael. They signed with Berry Gordy’s Motown empire in the 1960s. The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and produced several No. 1 hits in the 1970s, including “ABC,” “I Want You Back” and “I’ll Be There.” John David “JD” Souther has died. He was a prolific songwriter and musician whose collaborations with the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt helped shape the country-rock sound that took root in Southern California in the 1970s. Souther joined in on some of the Eagles’ biggest hits, such as “Best of My Love,” “New Kid in Town,” and “Heartache Tonight." The Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee also collaborated with James Taylor, Bob Seger, Bonnie Raitt and many more. His biggest hit as a solo artist was “You’re Only Lonely.” He was about to tour with Karla Bonoff. Souther died Sept. 17 at his home in New Mexico, at 78. In this photo, JD Souther and Alison Krauss attend the Songwriters Hall of Fame 44th annual induction and awards gala on Thursday, June 13, 2013 in New York. Sen. Dan Evans stands with his three sons, from left, Mark, Bruce and Dan Jr., after he won the election for Washington's senate seat in Seattle, Nov. 8, 1983. Evans, a former Washington state governor and a U.S. Senator, died Sept. 20. The popular Republican was 98. He served as governor from 1965 to 1977, and he was the keynote speaker at the 1968 National Republican Convention. In 1983, Evans was appointed to served out the term of Democratic Sen. Henry “Scoop” Jackson after he died in office. Evans opted not to stand for election in 1988, citing the “tediousness" of the Senate. He later served as a regent at the University of Washington, where the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance bears his name. Eugene “Mercury” Morris, who starred for the unbeaten 1972 Miami Dolphins as part of a star-studded backfield and helped the team win two Super Bowl titles, died Sept. 21. He was 77. The team on Sunday confirmed the death of Morris, a three-time Pro Bowl selection. In a statement, his family said his “talent and passion left an indelible mark on the sport.” Morris was the starting halfback and one of three go-to runners that Dolphins coach Don Shula utilized in Miami’s back-to-back title seasons of 1972 and 1973, alongside Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick. Morris led the Dolphins in rushing touchdowns in both of those seasons. John Ashton, the veteran character actor who memorably played the gruff but lovable police detective John Taggart in the “Beverly Hills Cop” films, died Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. He was 76. Maggie Smith, who won an Oscar for 1969 film “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” and won new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in “Downton Abbey” and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films, died Sept. 27 at 89. Smith's publicist announced the news Friday. She was frequently rated the preeminent British female performer of a generation that included Vanessa Redgrave and Judi Dench. “Jean Brodie” brought her the Academy Award for best actress in 1969. Smith added a supporting actress Oscar for “California Suite” in 1978. Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and an A-list Hollywood actor, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. He was 88. Drake Hogestyn, the “Days of Our Lives” star who appeared on the show for 38 years, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. He was 70. Ron Ely, the tall, musclebound actor who played the title character in the 1960s NBC series “Tarzan,” died Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, at age 86. Dikembe Mutombo, a Basketball Hall of Famer who was one of the best defensive players in NBA history and a longtime global ambassador for the game, died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, from brain cancer, the league announced. He was 58. Frank Fritz, left, part of a two-man team who drove around the U.S. looking for antiques and collectibles to buy and resell on the reality show “American Pickers,” died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. He was 60. He's shown here with co-host Mike Wolfe at the A+E Networks 2015 Upfront in New York on April 30, 2015. Pete Rose, baseball’s career hits leader and fallen idol who undermined his historic achievements and Hall of Fame dreams by gambling on the game he loved and once embodied, died Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. He was 83. Cissy Houston, the mother of Whitney Houston and a two-time Grammy winner who performed alongside superstar musicians like Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, died Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in her New Jersey home. She was 91. Ethel Kennedy, the wife of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who raised their 11 children after he was assassinated and remained dedicated to social causes and the family’s legacy for decades thereafter, died on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, her family said. She was 96. Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, whose chart-topping British boy band generated a global following of swooning fans, was found dead Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, local officials said. He was 31. Mitzi Gaynor, among the last survivors of the so-called golden age of the Hollywood musical, died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. She was 93. Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexican-born phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers who inspired “Fernandomania” while winning the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in 1981, died Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. He was 63. Jack Jones, a Grammy-winning crooner known for “The Love Boat” television show theme song, died, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. He was 86. Phil Lesh, a founding member of the Grateful Dead, died Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at age 84. Teri Garr, the quirky comedy actor who rose from background dancer in Elvis Presley movies to co-star of such favorites as "Young Frankenstein" and "Tootsie," died Tuesday, Oct 29, 2024. She was 79. Quincy Jones, the multitalented music titan whose vast legacy ranged from producing Michael Jackson’s historic “Thriller” album to writing prize-winning film and television scores and collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other recording artists, died Sunday, Nov 3, 2024. He was 91 Bobby Allison, founder of racing’s “Alabama Gang” and a NASCAR Hall of Famer, died Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. He was 86. Song Jae-lim, a South Korean actor known for his roles in K-dramas “Moon Embracing the Sun” and “Queen Woo,” was found dead at his home in capital Seoul, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. He was 39. British actor Timothy West, who played the classic Shakespeare roles of King Lear and Macbeth and who in recent years along with his wife, Prunella Scales, enchanted millions of people with their boating exploits on Britain's waterways, died Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024. He was 90. Bela Karolyi, the charismatic if polarizing gymnastics coach who turned young women into champions and the United States into an international power in the sport, died Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. He was 82. Arthur Frommer, whose "Europe on 5 Dollars a Day" guidebooks revolutionized leisure travel by convincing average Americans to take budget vacations abroad, died Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. He was 95. Former Chicago Bulls forward Bob Love, a three-time All-Star who spent 11 years in the NBA, died Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. He was 81. Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in “9 to 5” and the nasty TV director in “Tootsie,” died May 16. He was 92. For two decades Coleman labored in movies and TV shows as a talented but largely unnoticed performer. That changed abruptly in 1976 when he was cast as the incorrigibly corrupt mayor of the hamlet of Fernwood in “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” a satirical soap opera. He won a Golden Globe for “The Slap Maxwell Story” and an Emmy Award for best supporting actor in Peter Levin’s 1987 small screen legal drama “Sworn to Silence.” Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi listens to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, not in photo, during a joint news conference following their meeting at the Presidential palace in Ankara, Turkey, Jan. 24, 2024. Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and others were found dead at the site of a helicopter crash site, state media reported Monday, May 20, 2024. Jim Otto, the Hall of Fame center known as Mr. Raider for his durability through a litany of injuries, died May 19. He was 86. The cause of death was not immediately known. Otto joined the Raiders for their inaugural season in the American Football League in 1960 and was a fixture on the team for the next 15 years. He never missed a game because of injuries and competed in 210 consecutive regular-season games and 308 straight total contests despite undergoing nine operations on his knees during his playing career. His right leg was amputated in 2007. Ivan F. Boesky, the flamboyant stock trader whose cooperation with the government cracked open one of the largest insider trading scandals on Wall Street, has died at the age of 87. A representative at the Marianne Boesky Gallery, owned by his daughter, confirmed his death. The son of a Detroit delicatessen owner, Boesky was once considered one of the richest and most influential risk-takers on Wall Street. He had parlayed $700,000 from his late mother-in-law’s estate into a fortune estimated at more than $200 million. Once implicated in insider trading, Boesky cooperated with a brash young U.S. attorney named Rudolph Giuliani, uncovering a scandal that blemished some of the most respected U.S. investment brokerages. Boesky died May 20. 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Bo Richter ‘continues to excel’ as Vikings special teams come off roller-coaster performance against Bears
