jwowsworld By Simon Lewis and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has asked Syria's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel group to help locate and free missing American journalist Austin Tice as it liberates the country's prisons in the aftermath of Bashar al-Assad's overthrow, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Tuesday. Washington is telling all parties in Syria that Tice, who was abducted in Syria in 2012, is a top U.S. priority, Miller told a press briefing. Miller said that message had been sent via intermediaries to HTS, the faction that led the rebel operation that unseated Assad and which the U.S. considers to be a terror group, as well as other entities operating in Syria. "In all of our communications with parties that we know talk to HTS, we have sent very clearly the message that as they move through Syria liberating prisons, that our top priority is the return of Austin Tice," he said. "We want anyone who's operating on the ground in Syria to be on the lookout for him, and if they do find him, to return to him to us safely as soon as possible." President Joe Biden has said he believes Tice is alive and has dispatched hostage-affairs envoy Roger Carstens to the region as part of intensive efforts to free him. HTS is using the right words in its statements, but the United States would judge it by its actions, Miller said, declining to say whether Washington would change the group's designation as a foreign terrorist organization, which prevents the U.S. from assisting the group. "We have seen over the years, any number of militant groups who have seized power, who have promised that they would respect minorities, who have promised that they would respect religious freedom, promised that they would govern in an inclusive way, and then see them fail to meet those promises," Miller said. "So we really do mean it when we say what's important is watching how they actually behave in the coming weeks." Miller said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Tuesday about the situation in Syria with counterparts from Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Egypt. Earlier on Tuesday, Blinken issued a statement saying the United States fully supports Syria's political transition process and wants it to lead to credible, inclusive, and non-sectarian governance that meets international standards of transparency and accountability. (Reporting by Simon Lewis, David Ljunggren and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Alistair Bell)NEW YORK (AP) — If you're planning on ringing in the new year quietly at home, you're not alone. A majority of U.S adults intend to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research . “As I’ve gotten older over the last few years, it’s like if I don’t make it to midnight, it’s not a big deal, you know?” says Carla Woods, 70, from Vinton, Iowa. Nearly 2 in 10 will be celebrating at a friend or family member’s home, and just 5% plan to go out to celebrate at a bar, restaurant or organized event, the poll found. But many U.S. adults will celebrate the new year in a different way — by making a resolution. More than half say they'll make at least one resolution for 2025. There's some optimism about the year ahead, although more than half aren't expecting a positive change. About 4 in 10 say 2025 will be a better year for them personally. About one-third don’t expect much of a difference between 2024 and 2025, and about one-quarter think 2025 will be a worse year than 2024. Kourtney Kershaw, a 32-year-old bartender in Chicago, often fields questions from customers and friends about upcoming events for New Year's Eve. She said this year is trending toward low-key. “A majority of who I’ve spoken to in my age range, they want to go out, but they don’t know what they’re going to do because they haven’t found anything or things are just really expensive,” she said. “Party packages or an entry fee are like a turnoff, especially with the climate of the world and how much things cost.” As expected, younger people are more interested in ringing in the new year at a bar or organized event — about 1 in 10 U.S. adults under 30 say they plan to do that. But about 3 in 10 older adults — 60 and above — say they won’t celebrate the beginning of 2025 at all. Anthony Tremblay, 35, from Pittsburgh, doesn't usually go out to toast the arrival of the new year, but this year he's got something special cooked up: He and his wife will be traveling through Ireland. “I don’t do anything too crazy for New Year’s, usually. So this is definitely a change,” he said. “I wanted to do something unique this year, so I did.” Woods will be working New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. She answers calls on The Iowa Warmline, a confidential, noncrisis listening line for people struggling with mental health or substance use issues. “Holidays are really hard for people, so I don’t mind working,” she said. “I’m passionate about it because I have mental health issues in the family and so being able to help people is rewarding to me.” Every New Year's also triggers the eternal debate about resolutions. A majority of U.S. adults say they intend to make a New Year’s resolution of some type, but millennials and Gen Z are especially likely to be on board — about two-thirds expect to do so, compared to about half of older adults. Women are also more likely than men to say they will set a goal for 2025. Tremblay hopes to lose some weight and focus more on self-care — more sleep, meditation and breathing exercises. “It’s probably a good year to focus on mental health,” he said. Many others agree. About 3 in 10 adults choose resolutions involving exercise or eating healthier. About one-quarter said they'll make a resolution involving losing weight and a similar number said they'll resolve to make changes about priorities of money or mental health. Woods' resolutions are to stay social and active. As a mental health counselor, she knows those are key to a happy 2025 and beyond: “Probably one of my biggest resolutions is trying to make sure I stay social, try to get out at least once a week — get out and either have coffee or do something with a friend. That’s not only for the physical but also for the mental health part.” Kershaw, the bartender, says weight loss and better health are the top resolutions she hears people make. “Mental health is the new one, but I think it’s high up there as well as with regular health,” she said. She prefers more goal-oriented resolutions and, this time, it's to do more traveling and see more of the world: “I don’t know if that’s really a resolution, but that’s a goal that I’m setting.” And how will she welcome the arrival of 2025? Usually, she takes the night off and stays home watching movies with plenty of snacks, but this year Kershaw has a different plan, maybe one of the most Chicago things you can do. This die-hard sports fan will be at Wrigley Field on Tuesday watching the Chicago Blackhawks take on the St. Louis Blues. “Hockey’s my favorite sport. So I will be watching hockey and bringing in the new year,” she said. The AP-NORC poll of 1,251 adults was conducted Dec. 5-9, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. Sanders reported from Washington.

The family of a teenage girl who died after a medical emergency at a rugby club have paid tribute to her. Seren Jenkins, 14, was at Amman United Rugby Club in Carmarthenshire last Friday when emergency services were called. Her family said they were "devastated" by the loss of Seren, from Tycroes, Ammanford, who they called "a loving daughter, big and little sister". "Seren lived her short life to the full and was a budding artist, rugby player and social media lover," they said. "Seren was loved by all who knew her and no doubt will also be remembered for her sense of humour," they added in a statement. The family thanked everyone who has donated to a fundraiser for Seren, and those who have given "their kind words and support at this horrific time". They said the money was likely to go to various asthma services, the Wales Air Ambulance, "and a possible memorial for her friends to remember her".TEHRAN –The head of the Information Technology Organization of Iran, Mohammad-Mohsen Sadr, and the head of Saudi Arabia's Communications, Space & Technology Commission, Mohammed Altamimi, have explored the potential for enhancing collaborations between the two countries in different fields. The officials met on the sidelines of the Saudi Arabia Internet Governance Forum (Saudi IGF) which took place from December 15 –19. The two sides expressed interest in boosting joint activities in the information, communication and technology (ICT) sector, and exchanged views on existing capacities in the two countries, Mehr news agency reported. Utilizing mutual infrastructures, sharing experiences in native information technology, and messaging platforms, expanding cooperation in post-services, and optical fiber, conducting joint projects in artificial intelligence, as well as joint activities by start-ups and knowledge-based firms were among the main focuses of the meeting. The officials also emphasized using the Iranian private sector’s capacities in Saudi-Arabia’s ICT projects. A memorandum of understanding will be provided to follow up on the agreements. The 19th annual IGF was held in a hybrid format, accommodating participants onsite in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and online. The main objectives of the forum were to advocate for an open, globally connected, trustworthy Internet for everyone by highlighting the current risks of Internet fragmentation, and to provide the knowledge and skills needed to a new generation of Internet leaders to defend the Internet and empower them to take action. It also spotlighted and showcased the important work of the global Internet Society community. The theme for this year’s IGF was “Building our Multistakeholder Digital Future”. The program was centered around the following sub-themes: Harnessing innovation and balancing risks in the digital space, enhancing the digital contribution to peace, development, and sustainability, advancing human rights and inclusion in the digital age, and improving digital governance. The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology is the highest authority in the field of ICT in the country. All activities related to the information and communication technology industry are directly related to the ministry. The government pays special attention to plans and policies in this sector in order to maximize the use of ICT to facilitate people’s lives. The successful designing, building, and launching of a satellite show the growth of the national technology and scientific power of a country. Space technology has been considered a tool to expand prosperity, peace, scientific-cultural development, and economic progress in human societies. Different nations of the world exploit this technology in some way based on their capacity, capabilities, and efforts. Currently, 13 universities and a research institute affiliated to the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology are offering aerospace majors, thus Iran has a high capability in training specialists and experts in the aerospace sector and is a leading country in the region. Access to telecommunication services in rural areas of the country had improved over the period as the overall number of villages with access to communication services rose to 52,182, around 93 percent of all villages, while 47,837 villages had access to home landline services. Moreover, the number of Iranian mobile users reached nearly 135.890 million, according to the CRA which put the mobile phone penetration rate in the country at 161.67 percent. The figures showed, however, that fixed broadband adoption in Iran had stalled at 14 percent with nearly 11.921 million customers having access to the Internet via those services. This statistic shows that fixed broadband internet has grown by less than 2 percent compared to last year and mobile internet has experienced a growth of 10 percent. However, it can be said that the speed of mobile internet expansion is 5 times the speed of fixed internet. MT/MG

St. Louis Blues (9-12-1, in the Central Division) vs. New York Rangers (12-6-1, in the Metropolitan Division) Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * St. Louis Blues (9-12-1, in the Central Division) vs. New York Rangers (12-6-1, in the Metropolitan Division) Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? St. Louis Blues (9-12-1, in the Central Division) vs. New York Rangers (12-6-1, in the Metropolitan Division) New York; Monday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The New York Rangers host the St. Louis Blues after Artemi Panarin scored two goals in the Rangers’ 6-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. New York is 5-3-1 in home games and 12-6-1 overall. The Rangers are 5-2-1 in games they score at least one power-play goal. St. Louis has a 9-12-1 record overall and a 4-6-1 record on the road. The Blues have a 7-1-1 record when scoring three or more goals. Monday’s game is the first time these teams meet this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Adam Fox has 17 assists for the Rangers. Victor Mancini has over the past 10 games. Colton Parayko has four goals and seven assists for the Blues. Matthew Kessel has over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Rangers: 6-4-0, averaging 2.8 goals, 4.8 assists, 3.4 penalties and 6.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game. Blues: 3-6-1, averaging two goals, 3.5 assists, three penalties and 7.1 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game. INJURIES: Rangers: None listed. Blues: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. AdvertisementMutual of America Capital Management LLC Sells 606 Shares of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC)THERE are plans to open 30 new ecozones in 2025, mostly in the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (Calabarzon) region, as well as in the Visayas and Mindanao, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Tereso Panga said. "We had a lengthy discussion with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque regarding ecozone development, and we are very supportive [of] how we can integrate more small [and] medium enterprises into them while creating more sites in the countryside," Panga said in a statement. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.

The Australian sharemarket has avoided an embarrassing start to the Christmas trading week, with the market operator managing to fix its system for processing trades made by investors. On Friday, trading on the ASX was hampered by a technical issue delaying the settlement of trades on its Clearing House Electronic Subregister System, known as CHESS. The glitch forced the market operator to defer settlements scheduled for Friday to Monday, December 23, leaving brokers in a jam as billions of dollars worth of transactions couldn’t be finalised. The ASX narrowly avoided a festive fumble on Monday morning after a key system for processing trades was hampered by a glitch on Friday. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer The ASX said on Sunday that it had successfully resolved the technical issue, with settlement services to start as normal and will process all trades from last Wednesday and Thursday held up by the glitch. The CHESS system manages the transaction of shares between a buyer and a seller. Had the issue not been resolved, the ASX could have been forced to delay the time of market opening on Monday, or at worst cancel trading altogether. The ASX suffered a full-day trading outage in November 2020, and the market operator’s effort to upgrade the ageing CHESS system, which is 30 years old, has suffered significant delays. However, investors are set to be rewarded with only a meagre rise on Monday following a grim week for both local and international stocks, despite a small rally in US markets on Friday. Local futures indicate at market open the S&P ASX200 will gain just 0.16 per cent to 8079 points. At the end of last week, the S&P500 rose 1.1 per cent for its best day in six weeks and shaved its loss for the week down to 2 per cent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 498 points, or 1.2 per cent, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1 per cent. Superstar stock Nvidia and other big tech companies led the market, which got a lift after a report said a measure of inflation the Federal Reserve likes to use, was slightly lower last month than economists expected. It’s an encouraging signal following recent reports suggesting inflation may be tough to get all the way down to the Fed’s 2 per cent goal from its peak above 9 per cent. The threat of higher inflation was one of the reasons Fed Chair Jerome Powell gave this week when the central bank hinted it may deliver fewer cuts to interest rates next year than it earlier expected. That warning sent a shock through the stock market, which had run to 57 all-time highs this year amid the widespread assumption the Fed would deliver a string of cuts to rates into 2025. Now traders are largely betting on one, two or perhaps even zero next year, according to data from CME Group. “When optimism is rising and market multiples are expanding, it just takes a little fear to take the veneer off a market rally,” according to Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management. Friday’s better-than-expected inflation data pushed traders to trim their bets for zero cuts in 2025, which they now collectively see a 16 per cent chance of. Easier interest rates would boost the economy by making it cheaper for households and businesses to borrow, but they could also provide fuel for inflation. Critics had been warning stock prices were vulnerable to drops after running so high and that the market likely needed everything to go correctly to justify its stellar gains for the year. Besides the diminished hopes for several rate cuts next year, Wall Street got another reminder late Thursday that everything may not go as expected. In crypto markets, Bitcoin continues to toil under historical highs, dropping below $US100,000 at the end of last week where it remains, trading at $95,300 on Monday morning. In the bond market, Treasury yields eased. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.52 per cent from 4.57 per cent late Thursday. In stock markets abroad, indexes fell modestly across much of Asia and Europe. - with AP The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the day’s trading. Get it each weekday afternoon .Registered initially in 1958 by CIBA-GEIGY, atrazine has been a major agricultural herbicide in the US for more than 30 years. Manufactured by Swiss-based agrochemical giant Syngenta, it is a chlorinated triazine systemic herbicide. Pesticide products containing atrazine are registered for use on “field corn, sweet corn, sorghum, and sugarcane, wheat, macadamia nuts, and guava, as well as non-agricultural uses such as nursery/ornamental and turf.” Around 80 million pounds (over 36 million kilograms) of atrazine are What’s Wrong with Atrazine? The compound’s “chemical properties make it susceptible to leaching and runoff, especially during heavy rains,” according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Atrazine lingers in soil for months, or years in some types of soil, and can reach groundwater through runoff, research carried out by German scientists and in 2010 showed. A study published in 2014 found that in Germany, “even 20 years after the ban of atrazine, the groundwater concentrations of sampled [observation wells] remain on a level close to the threshold value of 0.1 μg l−1 without any considerable decrease.” Around 30 million Americans in 28 states have some level of atrazine in their drinking water, a report by the Environmental Working Group in 2018. Screenshot showing container of weed killer atrazine. © Photo Is It Dangerous for Humans? Short answer: . Atrazine (ATR) can cause as well as and , a study of Kentucky counties in 1997 published in and Chinese research featured in in 2023 . There was a “statistically significant increase in breast cancer risk with medium and high levels of triazine exposure,” researchers at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in 1997. Atrazine can increase proliferation rate of according to featured in ScienceDirect in 2023. Atrazine exposure causes , including , and more. US researchers found that “higher county levels of atrazine were associated with infant diagnoses of gastroschisis,” a rare birth defect where an opening in the newborn’s abdomen wall causes the intestines to spill outside the body, published in in 2024. Children of mothers with high levels of exposure to atrazine “had nearly a two-fold increase in risk for choanal atresia or stenosis,” which lead to life-threatening respiratory symptoms, said a Texas the National Library of Medicine in 2014. Endocrine disruption, interrupting regular hormone function, irregular estrogen levels and menstrual cycles, decreased sperm count in men, abnormal birth weight and unexplained infertility are all linked to the compound, as substantiated by international studies, were laid out in the International Journal of Ecosystem in 2011, and by Canada's Bureau of Reproductive and Child Health. Atrazine may cause , US research titled “ ” published by the National Library of Medicine in 2016 . of atrazine “align with pathological characteristics in Parkinson’s disease,” and studies support “a strong evidence base that low-concentration ATZ exposure during development can elicit increased risk of neurodegeneration,” a January 2024 study showed. Screenshot of publication on reapproval of atrazine by US EPA in 2020. © Photo : Despite the overwhelming science linking atrazine use to severe illness, the US EPA in 2020 for another 15 years. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) that atrazine is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans, allowing its continued use with new requirements. Why Was It Reapproved & Who Lobbied For Atrazine? The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) openly acknowledges in its September 1994 that banning atrazine would impose “costs on farmers and consumers” ranging between “$517 million and $665 million.” US agrochemicals giant (acquired by Germany’s Bayer in 2018) also had a finger in the pie. While not a primary manufacturer of atrazine, its flagship product, Roundup, contains the toxic weed killer ingredient . Monsanto invested $4.6 million to influence agricultural policy and pesticide regulations in 2016, . Monsanto coordinated its lobbying strategies at the national, EU, and international levels with atrazine-maker Syngenta, according to Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO). Ex-Monsanto staff got powerful positions in government, while scientists were paid to act as mouthpieces, . During the US EPA review of atrazine in 2003, industry lobbyists reportedly participated in with EPA regulators. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is entwined financially with large agribusiness corporations. Its insurance affiliates have bought stock in companies like the US multinational food corporation Cargill, wrote in 2012. Cargill Inc. $1,060,000 lobbying in 2024. Screenshot showing annual lobbying by Cargill Inc. © Photo : Center for Responsive Politics Farm groups including the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Corn Growers Association, and Agricultural Retailers Association, along with state farm bureaus and grower groups and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, with the EPA in 2022 urging to refrain from restricting the use of atrazine. They argued that this would " ." From 2005 to 2010, ten leading agribusiness interests spent $127 million lobbying Congress and federal agencies, fielding 159 lobbyists in 2010, with Monsanto and the American Farm Bureau leading the pack, by Environment Maryland in 2012 showed. Syngenta spent $260,000 lobbying the Environmental Protection Agency and other government officials, an Associated Press showed in 2004. The EPA, tethered to the interests of the pesticide industry, has since recalculated the level of concern for atrazine as 9.7 μg/L measured as a 60-day average (July 2024) following a peer review. Its cumulative on atrazine “ .” 24 June 2020, 20:14 GMT

Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges

Shortly after SC refuse to hear complaint, Yati Narsinghanand delivers hate speechRoadrunner Transportation Systems, Inc. ( OTCMKTS:RRTS – Get Free Report ) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 7,400 shares, a decrease of 22.1% from the November 30th total of 9,500 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 31,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.2 days. Roadrunner Transportation Systems Stock Performance Shares of OTCMKTS RRTS opened at $3.00 on Friday. Roadrunner Transportation Systems has a one year low of $0.97 and a one year high of $3.36. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $1.67 and a 200 day simple moving average of $1.43. Roadrunner Transportation Systems Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) See Also Receive News & Ratings for Roadrunner Transportation Systems Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Roadrunner Transportation Systems and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

OTTAWA — A Liberal MP says his committee colleagues are wasting time by launching a third inquiry into the former employment minister instead of focusing on important legislation for Indigenous Peoples. Jaime Battiste, who is Mi'kmaq, said there has been an "attack" on fellow Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault, who left his position as employment minister on Wednesday after allegations of shifting claims of Indigenous identity and questions around his past business dealings. Boissonnault has been the subject of two ethics committee probes, and Battiste said a third one by the Indigenous and northern affairs committee is "a waste of time, and it seems to be the Conservatives' way of ensuring that nothing gets done in the House of Commons." The Conservatives, NDP and Bloc Québécois all supported pushing ahead with the third study, even after Boissonnault left cabinet. Though Liberal MPs did not object to the motion Thursday, Battiste said the committee's time would be better spent studying legislation on important issues such as First Nations policing, a modern treaty commissioner and clean water for First Nations. "It’s very much my fear and frustration that politics is now becoming more important at the Indigenous and northern affairs committee than actually Indigenous Peoples that we're there every day to try to make life better for," he said. NDP MP Lori Idlout, who is a member of the committee, said Canadians deserve answers and she doesn't expect the probe to cut into the committee's other work. "It's not a waste of time to have MP Boissonnault answer for why his identity kept changing. Pretending to be Indigenous is a serious matter and we need to have him be transparent to all Canadians." Boissonnault came under intense scrutiny after the National Post reported that a company he previously co-owned described itself as wholly Indigenous-owned in order to apply for government contracts set aside for Indigenous businesses. He has been described as Indigenous multiple times in communications from the Liberal party, and in 2018 referred to himself as "non-status adopted Cree" — a statement he has repeated on other occasions. He also said his great-grandmother was a "full-blooded Cree woman." He has since clarified that his adoptive mother and brother are Métis, and he apologized for his shifting claims last Friday. The House ethics committee has separately investigated Boissonnault's past business dealings after media reports alleged he remained involved in the company he co-founded after he was re-elected in 2021 and joined the federal cabinet. Opposition MPs passed a motion in the House of Commons on Tuesday — a day before Boissonnault left cabinet — for the employment minister to appear as a witness to discuss his claims to Indigenous identity. But because Boissonnault is no longer in cabinet, the Liberal chair of the committee ruled Thursday that newly minted Employment Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor is technically the person the motion called to testify. "I figured this might happen," said Conservative MP and committee member Jamie Schmale. "If there are games to be played here and we have Minister Petitpas Taylor attend, I don't think that goes to the spirit of the House order. I don't think it would be very responsible to go against that ... It's Randy Boissonault that the House determined it needs and is ordered to appear along with several other witnesses. That's who we expect to be in that seat." A new motion from the Conservatives calls directly for Boissonnault to appear at the committee. One of the key concerns raised about Boissonnault in recent weeks is related to the government's Indigenous business procurement strategy. A directory provides the federal government with names of businesses it could consider using to meet its Indigenous procurement target, which states a minimum five per cent of the total value of government contracts should be held by Indigenous-owned businesses. Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu told a House of Commons committee on Tuesday that the company Boissonnault founded was not listed on that directory. Battiste suggested the committee will now be in a position of determining who is eligible for Indigenous programming and determining who is Indigenous, and as a First Nations person he does not agree with that. "I have a lot of concern because no First Nations, Métis or Inuit in this country are asking committees — who are filled with non-Indigenous Peoples — to determine our identity, who we are." Schmale and Bloc MP Sebastian Lemire, who is also a member of the committee, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2024. Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian PressThe 97th Air Mobility Wing, stationed at Altus Air Force Base, is one of the many vital units in the United States Air Force that provides strategic airlift to all the service branches of the US armed forces. In addition to their baseline mission of airlift, they also execute missions like aerial refueling (AR), aeromedical evacuation (MEDEVAC), and humanitarian and disaster relief flights. Their home field in Altus, Oklahoma, houses a fleet of aircraft that includes the KC-135 and KC-46 tankers and the C-17 cargo plane. The Altus Air Force Base (AFB) homesite articulates that the 97th Air Mobility Wing (AMW) is dedicated to providing unparalleled air mobility support, enabling mission success across the globe. 97th Air Mobility Wing history The 97th can be traced back to the post-WW2 days, when it was established as the 97th Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy, on 11 Sep 1947. Originally a squadron of Boeing B-29 Superfortress , the unit would go on to evolve and adopt new aircraft over the years including the B-50, B-47 and B-52 until their disestablishment in 1992. They would be reorganized as an air mobility squadron in 1992 and reassigned to fly the C-5 Galaxy, KC-135 Stratotanker and the C-17 Globemaster . According to the McChord Air Museum , the 97th has consistently demonstrated excellence in air mobility, contributing significantly to the success of operations worldwide. While the mighty C-5 Galaxy is no longer on the flightline with the 97th, they have been among the first to operate the new KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft from Boeing . The new aircraft delivers greater capability through a more flexible multi-mission platform. It builds upon the many years of technological refinement and experience of the AR squadrons that have been flying the KC-135 for decades. The wing's history is marked by the valor and dedication of its personnel, who have upheld the highest standards of service and professionalism throughout many conflicts. The legacy of the 97th Air Mobility Wing is not only defined by its track record of mission success but also by its enduring role in the broader mission of the US Air Force. The T-tail design offers greater stability at low speeds. 97th AMW Mission At Altus AFB in Oklahoma, the 97th AMW proudly declares its mission as: “We Train Exceptional Mobility Airmen.” Now referred to as “Mobility’s Hometown,” the 97th AMW trains over 2,000 air mobility students annually, to include students from 16 different foreign nations. Our vision is that we continue to execute “A Premier Installation Forging the World's Most Inspired, Proficient, and Adaptive Mobility Warriors to Deliver Airpower for America and Our Allies.” The 97th can deliver troops, equipment, vehicles, or supplies to virtually any corner of the world. They provide the rapid, heavy-lift logistics that make the US armed forces a mobile and flexible force that deploys to hot spots anywhere on Earth. Beyond this crucial role, they can also execute missions that assist with disaster responses by evacuating refugees or casualties and delivering supplies to aid personnel. Their all-important mission of aerial refueling makes the tactical aircraft of the US armed forces able to respond to the call for support wherever US troops or allies may need them. Without the aid of the AR tankers, the myriad of fearsome US combat aircraft would be much slower to reach the action where their firepower is needed. Air mobility is a silent hand that moves pieces on the board behind the curtain of the strategic picture for the US forces. Still, it is an all-important and powerful force that makes the might of the American military all the more fearsome to any potential adversary. High mobility, high-tech The 97th Air Mobility Wing flies a fleet of diverse and highly capable aircraft, each with unique and impressive technology. C-17 Globemaster III Maximum Speed: Speed: 450 knots at 28,000 feet (8,534 meters) (Mach .74) Range: Global with in-flight refueling Payload Capacity: 102 troops/paratroops; 36 litter and 54 ambulatory patients and attendants; 170,900 pounds (77,519 kilograms) of cargo (18 pallet positions) Crew: Three (two pilots and one loadmaster) KC-135 Stratotanker Maximum Speed: 530 miles per hour at 30,000 feet (9,144 meters) Range: 1,500 miles (2,419 kilometers) with 150,000 pounds (68,039 kilograms) of transfer fuel; ferry mission, up to 11,015 miles (17,766 kilometers) Fuel Capacity: 200,000 pounds (90,719 kilograms) Crew: Three (pilot, co-pilot and boom operator) KC-46 Pegasus Maximum Speed: 650 mph (1046 km/h) Range: 7,350 miles (farther with air refueling) Fuel Capacity: 212,299 lb., max transfer load 207,672 lb at 1,200 gpm (boom), 400 gpm (drogue) Passenger Load: 58 or up to 114 for contingency operations. AE load: 58 patients (24 litters and 34 ambulatory). Crew: Three (pilot, co-pilot and boom operator) 97th AMW strategic goals The 97th AMW's importance goes beyond its operational abilities, including its contribution to the local community and its strategic role in national defense. Altus Air Force Base, home to the 97th AMW, is a hub for military personnel and their families, fostering a strong sense of community and support. The wing's presence contributes to the local economy, providing employment opportunities and engaging in various community outreach programs. These initiatives strengthen the bond between the military and civilian communities, enhancing mutual support and understanding. The wing promotes global cooperation and interoperability through joint operations with other branches, partner nations, and allies. The 97th Air Mobility Wing shows steadfast dedication to accomplishing its mission, whether responding to natural disasters, providing humanitarian aid, or assisting in combat operations. The KC-46A Pegasus is the Air Force's newest tanker and is based on the Boeing 767 airliner.CHICAGO (AP) — As Donald Trump’s Cabinet begins to take shape, those on both sides of the abortion debate are watching closely for clues about how his picks might affect reproductive rights policy in the president-elect’s second term . Trump’s cabinet picks offer a preview of how his administration could handle abortion after he repeatedly flip-flopped on the issue on the campaign trail. He attempted to distance himself from anti-abortion allies by deferring to states on abortion policy, even while boasting about nominating three Supreme Court justices who helped strike down the constitutional protections for abortion that had stood for half a century. In an NBC News interview that aired Sunday, Trump said he doesn't plan to restrict medication abortion but also seemed to leave the door open, saying “things change.” “Things do change, but I don't think it's going to change at all,” he said. The early lineup of his new administration , including nominations to lead health agencies, the Justice Department and event the Department of Veterans Affairs, has garnered mixed — but generally positive — reactions from anti-abortion groups. Abortion law experts said Trump's decision to include fewer candidates with deep ties to the anti-abortion movement could indicate that abortion will not be a priority for Trump's administration. “It almost seems to suggest that President Trump might be focusing his administration in other directions," said Greer Donley, an associate law professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Karen Stone, vice president of public policy at Planned Parenthood Action Fund , said while many of the nominees have “extensive records against reproductive health care,” some do not. She cautioned against making assumptions based on Trump's initial cabinet selections. Still, many abortion rights groups are wary, in part because many of the nominees hold strong anti-abortion views even if they do not have direct ties to anti-abortion activists. They're concerned that an administration filled with top-level officials who are personally opposed to abortion could take steps to restrict access to the procedure and funding. After Trump’s ambiguity about abortion during his campaign, "there’s still a lot we don’t know about what policy is going to look like," said Mary Ruth Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California, Davis School of Law. That approach may be revealed as the staffs within key departments are announced. Trump announced he would nominate anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services Department, which anti-abortion forces have long targeted as central to curtailing abortion rights nationwide. Yet Kennedy shifted on the issue during his own presidential campaign. In campaign videos, Kennedy said he supports abortion access until viability , which doctors say is sometime after 21 weeks, although there is no defined timeframe. But he also said “every abortion is a tragedy” and argued for a national ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy, a stance he quickly walked back. The head of Health and Human Services oversees Title X funding for a host of family planning services and has sweeping authority over agencies that directly affect abortion access, including the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The role is especially vital amid legal battles over a federal law known as EMTALA, which President Joe Biden’s administration has argued requires emergency abortion access nationwide, and FDA approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. Mini Timmaraju, president of the national abortion rights organization Reproductive Freedom for All, called Kennedy an “unfit, unqualified extremist who cannot be trusted to protect the health, safety and reproductive freedom of American families.” His potential nomination also has caused waves in the anti-abortion movement. Former Vice President Mike Pence , a staunch abortion opponent, urged the Senate to reject Kennedy’s nomination. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the national anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said the group had its own concerns about Kennedy. “There’s no question that we need a pro-life HHS secretary," she said. Fox News correspondent Marty Makary is Trump’s pick to lead the FDA, which plays a critical role in access to medication abortion and contraception. Abortion rights groups have accused him of sharing misinformation about abortion on air. Russell Vought , a staunch anti-abortion conservative, has been nominated for director of the Office of Management and Budget. Vought was a key architect of Project 2025 , a right-wing blueprint for running the federal government. Among other actions to limit reproductive rights, it calls for eliminating access to medication abortion nationwide, cutting Medicaid funding for abortion and restricting access to contraceptive care, especially long-acting reversible contraceptives such as IUD’s. Despite distancing himself from the conservative manifesto on the campaign trail, Trump is stocking his administration with people who played central roles in developing Project 2025. Trump acknowledged that drafters of the report would be part of his incoming administration during the Sunday interview with NBC News, saying “Many of those things I happen to agree with.” “These cabinet appointments all confirm that Project 2025 was in fact the blueprint all along, and the alarm we saw about it was warranted,” said Amy Williams Navarro, director of government relations for Reproductive Freedom for All. Dr. Mehmet Oz , Trump’s choice to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is a former television talk show host who has been accused of hawking dubious medical treatments and products. He voiced contradictory abortion views during his failed Senate run in 2022. Oz has described himself as “strongly pro-life, praised the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade , claimed “life starts at conception” and referred to abortion as “murder.” But he also has echoed Trump’s states-rights approach, arguing the federal government should not be involved in abortion decisions. “I want women, doctors, local political leaders, letting the democracy that’s always allowed our nation to thrive to put the best ideas forward so states can decide for themselves,” he said during a Senate debate two years ago. An array of reproductive rights groups opposed his Senate run. As CMS administrator, Oz would be in a key position to determine Medicaid coverage for family planning services and investigate potential EMTALA violations. As Florida’s attorney general, Pam Bondi defended abortion restrictions, including a 24-hour waiting period. Now she’s Trump’s choice for attorney general . Her nomination is being celebrated by abortion opponents but denounced by abortion rights groups concerned she may revive the Comstock Act , an anti-vice law passed by Congress in 1873 that, among other things, bans mailing of medication or instruments used in abortion. An anti-abortion and anti-vaccine former Florida congressman, David Weldon, has been chosen to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which collects and monitors abortion data across the country. Former Republican congressman Doug Collins is Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs amid a political battle over abortion access and funding for troops and veterans. Collins voted consistently to restrict funding and access to abortion and celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade. “This is a team that the pro-life movement can work with," said Kristin Hawkins, president of the national anti-abortion organization Students for Life. ___ The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here . The AP is solely responsible for all content. Christine Fernando, The Associated Press

After Trump's win, Black women are rethinking their role as America's reliable political organizers

Omar Ayub blames Bajwa for TTP talksNoneAzincourt Energy (CVE:AAZ) Stock Price Up 50% – What’s Next?(Bloomberg) -- Rupert Murdoch was unsuccessful in his effort to change his family trust and hand sole control of his media empire to his eldest son, the New York Times reported on Monday. The Reno, Nevada, probate commissioner hearing the case rendered a verdict on Saturday, the paper reported, citing a sealed document saying that the elder Murdoch had acted in “bad faith” when he tried to change terms of an irrevocable trust to leave Lachlan Murdoch in charge. Spokespeople for the Murdochs didn’t immediately return requests for comment. An attorney for Rupert Murdoch told the Times he intends to appeal the ruling. The case weighed heavily on the future of some of the highest-profile media properties in the world. Through a family trust, Murdoch, 93, owns about 40% of the voting stock in both Fox Corp., the parent of Fox News, and News Corp., which counts the Wall Street Journal and the Times of London among its many holdings. Upon Murdoch’s death, control of the trust was to be split among his four oldest kids. Instead, he sought to give voting power to Lachlan, who serves as chief executive officer of Fox and chairman of News Corp. The case was heard in probate court, which manages legal proceedings around the transfer of property after a person’s death, and wasn’t open to the public. News outlets, including the New York Times Co. and CNN, unsuccessfully sought to open up the proceedings. A Nevada probate commissioner determined in June that Murdoch could change the trust as long as he was doing so in good faith and in the best interest of his heirs. Murdoch argued that the change would benefit all six of his children because it would prevent Lachlan’s more politically liberal siblings — Prudence, Elisabeth and James — from making Fox News more moderate, thus hurting its value as a conservative media brand. The trio chose to share legal counsel and take their father to court in a trial that began Sept. 16, arguing that the change violates the trust’s original conditions and that they would be wrongfully disenfranchised. Murdoch hired his own team of lawyers, including former US Attorney General William Barr, who was spotted at the Reno courthouse as Murdoch’s team emerged from a fleet of SUVs. Nevada’s lack of income and inheritance taxes, as well as its confidentiality protections have made it a top venue for family trust management. Picking Reno over the bustling hub of Las Vegas added another layer of privacy to the closed-door proceedings, according to Nevada probate lawyer Elyse Tyrell. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com ©2024 Bloomberg L.P.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has promised to as soon as he gets into office to make good on campaign promises aiming and redefining what it means to be American. But any efforts to halt the policy would face steep legal hurdles. Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the United States automatically becomes an American citizen. It's been in place for decades and applies to children born to someone in the country illegally or in the U.S. on a tourist or student visa who plans to return to their home country. It's not the practice of every country, and Trump and his supporters have argued that the system is being abused and that there should be tougher standards for becoming an American citizen. But others say this is a right enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, it would be extremely difficult to overturn and even if it's possible, it's a bad idea. Here's a look at birthright citizenship, what Trump has said about it and the prospects for ending it: During an interview Sunday on Trump said he “absolutely” planned to halt birthright citizenship once in office. “We’re going to end that because it’s ridiculous,” he said. Trump and other opponents of birthright citizenship have argued that it creates an incentive for people to come to the U.S. illegally or take part in pregnant women enter the U.S. specifically to give birth so their children can have citizenship before returning to their home countries. “Simply crossing the border and having a child should not entitle anyone to citizenship,” said Eric Ruark, director of research for NumbersUSA, which argues for reducing immigration. The organization supports changes that would require at least one parent to be a permanent legal resident or a U.S. citizen for their children to automatically get citizenship. Others have argued that ending birthright citizenship would profoundly damage the country. “One of our big benefits is that people born here are citizens, are not an illegal underclass. There’s better assimilation and integration of immigrants and their children because of birthright citizenship,” said Alex Nowrasteh, vice president for economic and social policy studies at the pro-immigration Cato Institute. In 2019, the Migration Policy Institute estimated that 5.5 million children under age 18 lived with at least one parent in the country illegally in 2019, representing 7% of the U.S. child population. The vast majority of those children were U.S. citizens. The nonpartisan think tank said during Trump’s campaign for president in 2015 that the number of people in the country illegally would “balloon” if birthright citizenship were repealed, creating “a self-perpetuating class that would be excluded from social membership for generations.” In the aftermath of the Civil War, Congress ratified the 14th Amendment in July 1868. That amendment assured citizenship for all, including Black people. “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” the 14th Amendment says. “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.” But the 14th Amendment didn't always translate to everyone being afforded birthright citizenship. For example, it wasn't until 1924 that Congress finally granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S. A key case in the history of birthright citizenship came in 1898, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Wong Kim Ark, born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrants, was a U.S. citizen because he was born in the states. The federal government had tried to deny him reentry into the county after a trip abroad on grounds he wasn’t a citizen under the Chinese Exclusion Act. But some have argued that the 1898 case clearly applied to children born of parents who are both legal immigrants to America but that it's less clear whether it applies to children born to parents without legal status or, for example, who come for a short-term like a tourist visa. “That is the leading case on this. In fact, it’s the only case on this,” said Andrew Arthur, a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, which supports immigration restrictions. “It’s a lot more of an open legal question than most people think.” Some proponents of immigration restrictions have argued the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” in the 14th Amendment allows the U.S. to deny citizenship to babies born to those in the country illegally. Trump himself used that language in his 2023 announcement that he would aim to end birthright citizenship if reelected. Trump wasn't clear in his Sunday interview how he aims to end birthright citizenship. Asked how he could get around the 14th Amendment with an executive action, Trump said: “Well, we’re going to have to get it changed. We’ll maybe have to go back to the people. But we have to end it.” Pressed further on whether he'd use an executive order, Trump said “if we can, through executive action." He gave a lot more details in a . In it, he said he would issue an executive order the first day of his presidency, making it clear that federal agencies “require that at least one parent be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident for their future children to become automatic U.S. citizens.” Trump wrote that the executive order would make clear that children of people in the U.S. illegally “should not be issued passports, Social Security numbers, or be eligible for certain taxpayer funded welfare benefits.” This would almost certainly end up in litigation. Nowrasteh from the Cato Institute said the law is clear that birthright citizenship can’t be ended by executive order but that Trump may be inclined to take a shot anyway through the courts. “I don’t take his statements very seriously. He has been saying things like this for almost a decade," Nowrasteh said. "He didn’t do anything to further this agenda when he was president before. The law and judges are near uniformly opposed to his legal theory that the children of illegal immigrants born in the United States are not citizens." Trump could steer Congress to pass a law to end birthright citizenship but would still face a legal challenge that it violates the Constitution. Associated Press reporter Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.Should You Buy Devon Energy Stock With Oil Prices Below $70 a Barrel?

Inflation is predicted to average 2.5% this year and 2.6% next year, according to forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility. The British Medical Association said the Government showed a “poor grasp” of unresolved issues from two years of industrial action, and the Royal College of Nursing called the pay recommendation “deeply offensive”. The National Education Union’s chief said teachers were “putting the Government on notice” that the proposed increase “won’t do”. The pay recommendations came after Chancellor Rachel Reeves called for every Government department to cut costs by 5%, as she started work on a sweeping multi-year spending review to be published in 2025. Independent pay review bodies will consider the proposals for pay rises for teachers, NHS workers and senior civil servants. The Department of Health said it viewed 2.8% as a “reasonable amount” to set aside, in its recommendations to the NHS Pay Review Body and the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration Board remit groups. A 2.8% pay rise for teachers in 2025/26 would “maintain the competitiveness of teachers’ pay despite the challenging financial backdrop the Government is facing”, the Department for Education said. The Cabinet Office also suggested pay increases for senior civil servants should be kept to no more than 2.8%. Paul Johnson, director of the influential economics think tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), said it was “not a bad ballpark figure” and feels “just about affordable” given the Government’s public spending plans. The downside, he said, is that public sector workers have lost out since 2010 and unions will be upset that this is not making up the gap, he told Sky News’ Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge. “But given the constraints facing the Chancellor I think it’s pretty hard to argue for more for public sector pay when public sector services ... are under real strain,” he said. Unions expressed their disappointment in the recommendations, with some hinting they could be willing to launch industrial action. The Royal College of Nursing general secretary and chief executive called for “open direct talks now” to avoid “further escalation to disputes and ballots”. Professor Nicola Ranger said: “The Government has today told nursing staff they are worth as little as £2 extra a day, less than the price of a coffee. “Nursing is in crisis – there are fewer joining and too many experienced professionals leaving. This is deeply offensive to nursing staff, detrimental to their patients and contradictory to hopes of rebuilding the NHS. “The public understands the value of nursing and they know that meaningful reform of the NHS requires addressing the crisis in nursing. “We pulled out of the Pay Review Body process, alongside other unions, because it is not the route to address the current crisis. “That has been demonstrated today. “Fair pay must be matched by structural reform. Let’s open direct talks now and avoid further escalation to disputes and ballots – I have said that directly to government today.” Professor Philip Banfield, chairman of the British Medical Association’s council, urged the sector’s pay review body to “show it is now truly independent”. “For this Government to give evidence to the doctors’ and dentists’ pay review body (DDRB) believing a 2.8% pay rise is enough, indicates a poor grasp of the unresolved issues from two years of industrial action,” he said. He said the proposal is far below the current rate of inflation and that the Government was “under no illusion” when doctors accepted pay offers in the summer that there was a “very real risk of further industrial action” if “pay erosion” was not addressed in future pay rounds. “This sub-inflationary suggestion from the current Government serves as a test to the DDRB. “The BMA expects it to take this opportunity to show it is now truly independent, to take an objective view of the evidence it receives from all parties, not just the Government, and to make an offer that reflects the value of doctors’ skills and expertise in a global market, and that moves them visibly further along the path to full pay restoration.” The NEU’s general secretary, Daniel Kebede, said teachers’ pay had been cut by more than one-fifth in real terms since 2010. “Along with sky-high workload, the pay cuts have resulted in a devastating recruitment and retention crisis. Teacher shortages across the school system hit pupils and parents too. “A 2.8% increase is likely to be below inflation and behind wage increases in the wider economy. This will only deepen the crisis in education.” In a hint that there could be a return to industrial action he added: “NEU members fought to win the pay increases of 2023 and 2024. “We are putting the Government on notice. Our members care deeply about education and feel the depth of the crisis. This won’t do.” The offer for teachers is the “exact opposite of fixing the foundations” and will result in bigger class sizes and more cuts to the curriculum, Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “The inadequacy of the proposed pay award is compounded by the Government’s intention that schools should foot the bill out of their existing allocations. “Given that per-pupil funding will increase on average by less than 1% next year, and the Government’s proposal is for an unfunded 2.8% pay award, it is obvious that this is in fact an announcement of further school cuts.” Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said: This recommendation falls far short of what is needed to restore the competitiveness of the teaching profession, to enable it to retain experienced professionals and attract new talent. Unison head of health Helga Pile said: “The Government has inherited a financial mess from its predecessors, but this is not what NHS workers wanted to hear. “Staff are crucial in turning around the fortunes of the NHS. Improving performance is a key Government pledge, but the pay rise proposed is barely above the cost of living.”Burnaby oil refinery produces Canada's first test run of low-carbon jet fuel

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