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Company experts offer predictions across key sectors to help businesses navigate the unexpected MEMPHIS, Tenn. , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sedgwick , a leading global provider of claims management, loss adjusting and technology-enabled business solutions, has published its Forecasting 2025 thought leadership report . In preparing the report, Sedgwick's experts conducted research and engaged with clients for notable insights to forecast trends across key sectors and topics. The content focuses on ensuring organizations are aware of new risks and evolving trends and helping them navigate the unexpected in the year ahead. The Forecasting 2025 thought leadership report highlights trends related to: The future of the workplace: Organizational leaders will need to navigate generational differences, an ever-increasing focus on mental health, and new strategies for talent recruitment, retention and development — while developing efficient support systems to respond in the event of workplace injuries, accidents and other crises. Recalls, regulatory landscape and compliance: Strategies like "mock recalls" will be a priority as leaders focus on maintaining public trust, tailoring communication strategies to broader and more segmented audiences, and maximizing awareness and response in the event of a product recall. Catastrophe planning and disaster recovery: Operational continuity in the event of a disaster will be key in 2025, as business and property owners, company leaders and private citizens anticipate the rising frequency and intensity of droughts, extreme temperatures, flooding and storms. Parametric insurance policies will become more common, as will new building methods and construction strategies amid regulatory and policy changes, technological advancements, and environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives. AI and ...: Artificial intelligence and robotics have driven some of the most prominent workplace evolutions over the past few years. In 2025, these and other leading-edge technologies will continue to play a significant role in the way companies promote efficiencies and engage with customers. However, business leaders must be able to keep up with new regulations, understand the associated vulnerabilities and risks, and put a team in place to effectively implement and maintain them. Planning ahead: The world is rapidly changing, becoming more uncertain and volatile every day. Supply chain disruptions, new tariffs, more frequent and sophisticated cyber-attacks and business interruption will greatly impact organizations in 2025. Diversification, rapid response and technology will be critical tools in being as prepared as possible. "2024 was a seismic year across industry sectors as companies navigated the unexpected, and 2025 will be no different," said Kimberly George, Sedgwick's Global Chief Brand Officer . "These predictions serve as a barometer for what's to come, so leaders around the world can prepare accordingly." The trends and predictions in the Forecasting 2025 report will be monitored by Sedgwick's experts throughout the year and serve as part of a larger thought leadership strategy to keep clients and partners informed. With this, Sedgwick will launch a new podcast featuring in-depth conversations with its experts and client partners on a new topic each month. For more on the report insights, visit sedgwick.com . About Sedgwick Sedgwick is a leading global provider of claims management, loss adjusting and technology-enabled business solutions. The company provides a broad range of resources tailored to clients' specific needs in casualty, property, marine, benefits, brand protection and other lines. At Sedgwick, caring counts; through the dedication and expertise of over 33,000 colleagues across 80 countries, the company takes care of people and organizations by mitigating and reducing risks and losses, promoting health and productivity, protecting brand reputations, and containing costs that can impact performance. Sedgwick's majority shareholder is The Carlyle Group; Stone Point Capital LLC, Altas Partners, CDPQ, Onex and other management investors are minority shareholders. For more, see sedgwick.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sedgwick-shares-major-trends-in-forecasting-2025-report-302330767.html SOURCE Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.The city of Fort Worth is among a trio of North Texas entities receiving federal funds to reduce DNA testing backlogs, after an October NBC DFW investigation revealed police had a backlog of more than 900 sexual assault evidence kits. U.S. Senator John Cornyn said in a press release that Fort Worth, the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth and Tarrant County were collectively awarded $2.18 million from the Department of Justice’s Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction Program. The awards were authorized through Cornyn’s Debbie Smith Act . Sexual assault kits are used to collect evidence from the body and clothing of survivors of rape or sexual assault. The kits are transferred to a law enforcement agency to be logged as evidence and sent to a crime lab. A kit is considered backlogged when it remains untested after 30 days . “DNA analysis is a critical tool used to identify perpetrators, exonerate innocent suspects, and solve cases,” Cornyn said in the release. “I am proud of the work we’ve done to reduce the backlog of DNA tests over the years, but I will not rest until every victim and family in Texas has the answers they’re looking for and the justice they deserve.” When it was revealed that Fort Worth’s crime lab had missed state deadlines for testing hundreds of sexual assault evidence kits, Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes took full responsibility for his department’s errors and promised decisive action. In a Nov. 5 update , Noakes said the backlog had been cut to 708, 190 less than the month prior. His department was working to fill vacant forensic science positions that contributed to the problem, Noakes said. In the last few years, the crime lab has been embroiled in controversy. It’s been the subject of several investigations by the Texas Forensic Science Commission since 2020, as well as a whistleblower lawsuit filed by a former employee. That suit was settled for $850,000 in April. Get essential daily news for the Fort Worth area. Sign up for insightful, in-depth stories — completely free. Those controversies, alongside the existing backlog, have prompted questions about the crime lab’s future. For the time being, Noakes said the lab will focus on overdue cases, while the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office takes on new cases. Fort Worth received a total of $689,620 in federal funds, while Tarrant County received $516,863. This isn’t the first time Cornyn has helped funnel these funds to North Texas. In 2023, Fort Worth, the University of North Texas Health Science Center and Tarrant County received a total of $2.09 million through the same program. In 2022, the same entities received a total of $2.04 million . During his time in office, Cornyn has led the charge to pass four laws intended to mitigate backlogs nationwide, including the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Reporting Act . If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, it’s not your fault. You are not alone. Help is available 24/7 through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE or visit the Online Hotline , y en español en RAINN . Your support makes TWICE the impact today. As November draws to a close , time is running out to double your impact. Thanks to the generosity of the Nicholas Martin Jr. Family Foundation, every dollar you give will be matched—up to $15,000. Will you give today to help trusted, local reporting thrive in Fort Worth and Tarrant County? Related Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative for adhering to standards for ethical journalism . Republish This Story Republishing is free for noncommercial entities. Commercial entities are prohibited without a licensing agreement. Contact us for details. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License . Look for the "Republish This Story" button underneath each story. To republish online, simply click the button, copy the html code and paste into your Content Management System (CMS). Do not copy stories straight from the front-end of our web-site. You are required to follow the guidelines and use the republication tool when you share our content. The republication tool generates the appropriate html code. You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. You can’t sell or syndicate our stories. Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. If you use our stories in any other medium — for example, newsletters or other email campaigns — you must make it clear that the stories are from the Fort Worth Report. In all emails, link directly to the story at fortworthreport.org and not to your website. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @FortWorthReport on Facebook and @FortWorthReport on Twitter. You have to credit Fort Worth Report. Please use “Author Name, Fort Worth Report” in the byline. If you’re not able to add the byline, please include a line at the top of the story that reads: “This story was originally published by Fort Worth Report” and include our website, fortworthreport.org . You can’t edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. Our stories may appear on pages with ads, but not ads specifically sold against our stories. You can’t sell or syndicate our stories. You can only publish select stories individually — not as a collection. Any web site our stories appear on must include a contact for your organization. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using @FortWorthReport on Facebook and @FortWorthReport on Twitter. by Emily Wolf, Fort Worth Report November 22, 2024db live casino

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Ian Schieffelin, Clemson topple Penn State to win Sunshine SlamABC propels Dutton’s disinformation dealersTweet Facebook Mail People living in central and southeastern parts of the country have been warned to brace for intense heat this weekend. Victorians, in particular, will feel the heat, with temperatures expected to hit up to 45 in some areas – the first time in four years. The extreme temperatures will bring severe heatwave conditions to both Victoria and South Australia. READ MORE: Woman sexually assaulted while walking at Melbourne's Flinders Street Station Victoria's first 45°C in four years could happen on Monday. (Weatherzone) Severe heatwave conditions are currently peaking over southwestern Western Australia , including the Perth Metropolitan Area, and are expected to gradually move eastward later in the week, reaching South Australia and Victoria by the weekend. "This weekend will see temperatures approaching five to 10 degrees above average throughout much of South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales," Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said. "Monday will be the hottest day with temperatures up to 16 degrees above average." READ MORE: Truck driver wanted after motorcyclist hit on major Melbourne freeway Forecast wind and temperature at 5pm AEDT on Monday, December 16. (Weatherzone) Wildfires to cyclone bomb: Extreme weather hits the US View Gallery Adelaide will be the first to hit 40 degrees on Sunday, followed by Melbourne on Monday. If Melbourne reaches 40 degrees, it will mark the warmest December day since 2019. "Other parts of Victoria and New South Wales could be in the low to mid-40s, inland NSW could even reach the high 40s on Monday," Bradbury said. READ MORE: Why a 35-degree day can 'feel like' 40 degrees "Along with the heat, windy conditions and a lack of rain are likely to lead to a spike in fire danger for much of the southeast." Victoria will see a cool change on Monday night and Tuesday morning. DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .

Voice cloning is an emerging technology powered by artificial intelligence and it's raising alarms about its potential misuse. Earlier this year, New Hampshire voters experienced this firsthand when a deepfake mimicking President Joe Biden’s voice urged them to skip the polls ahead of the primary. The deepfake likely needed only several seconds of the president's voice to create the clone. According to multiple AI voice cloning models, about 10 seconds of an actual voice is all that is needed to recreate it. And that can easily come from a phone call or a video from social media. "A person's voice is really probably not that information-dense. It's not as unique as you may think," James Betker, a technical staff member at OpenAI, told Scripps News. Betker developed TortoiseTTS, an open-source voice cloning model. "It's actually very easy to model, very easy to learn, the distribution of all human voices from a fairly small amount of data," Betker added. How AI voice cloning works AI models have been trained on vast amounts of data, learning to recognize human speech. Programs analyze the data and train repeatedly, learning characteristics such as rhythm, stress, pitch and tone. "It can look at 10 seconds of someone speaking and it has stored enough information about how humans speak with that kind of prosody and pitch. Enough information about how people speak with their processing pitch and its weights that it can just continue on," Betker said. Imagine a trained AI model as a teacher, and the person cloning the voice to be a student. When a student asks to create a cloned voice, it starts off as white noise. The teacher scores how close the student is to sounding correct. The student tries again and again based on these scores until the student produces something close to what the teacher wants. While this explanation is extremely simplified, the concept of generating a cloned voice is based on bit-by-bit, based on probability distributions. "I think, at its core, it's pretty simple," Betker said. "I think the analogy of just continuing with what you're given will take you pretty far here." There are currently some AI models that claim to only need two seconds of samples. While the results are not convincing yet, Betker says future models will need even fewer voice samples to create a convincing clone.Dom Amore: How Steve Cohen, Juan Soto and the Mets have shifted the landscape for CT baseball fansAMMAN, Jordan — President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced Israel and Lebanon have reached a ceasefire agreement meant to pause fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah. The 14-month conflict has left more than 3,000 people dead. “Effective 4 a.m. tomorrow local time the fighting across the Lebanese-Israeli border will end. Will end,” Biden said from the White House. “This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities. I applaud the courageous leaders of Lebanon and Israel end the violence.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier Tuesday he had recommended that this government approve the agreement. Though the deal does not involve the separate conflict in Gaza Strip, Biden administration officials said they hoped it would lead to an agreement to end fighting there, too. Even as the deal was finalized, Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes across Lebanon, striking areas in the country’s southern and eastern regions, along with the suburbs of the capital — areas where Hezbollah holds sway. Several airstrikes also hit the heart of Beirut, killing at least 10 people, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. In a televised address on Tuesday evening local time, Netanyahu said he would present the outline of the proposal to the government, pushing his ministers to accept the move despite reservations from far-right leaders who are integral members of his coalition. “The length of the ceasefire will depend on what happens in Lebanon,” Netanyahu said. He added that Israel would maintain freedom to act against violations. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and seeks to arm itself, we will attack,” he said. The agreement would not immediately affect the fighting in Gaza Strip with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Netanyahu pushed his ministers to accept the agreement, arguing it would allow Israel to focus its attention on the threat from Iran, give Israeli troops an opportunity to replenish their stocks and isolate Hamas. The agreement will initiate a 60-day truce that would see both sides withdraw: Israeli troops out of south Lebanon to Israeli territory, and Hezbollah to areas north of the Litani River, some 18 miles north of the Lebanese-Israeli border. During the truce, a monitoring mechanism would be established that would ensure Hezbollah is not able to reconstitute itself or wage attacks on Israel from southern Lebanon. A U.S.-led committee would oversee implementation of the withdrawal. Lebanese officials say some 5,000 soldiers from Lebanon’s army — which has remained neutral during the conflict — would then enter south Lebanon, along with U.N. peacekeeping forces. Lebanon’s caretaker government is set to meet Wednesday morning to discuss the proposal; it is widely expected to be approved. Despite the optimism, many elements of the ceasefire proposal — which came about after vigorous negotiations brokered by the U.S. and France — remain unclear. One of the larger sticking points is whether Israel would be able to continue striking Hezbollah throughout Lebanon if the group attempts to reestablish a presence south of the Litani River, or if it continues to wage attacks on Israel or smuggle weapons. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz told the U.N.’s Lebanon envoy Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert on Tuesday that Israel would act “forcefully” against any breach of the ceasefire agreement. “If you do not act, we will do it, forcefully,” Katz said in a statement. “Any house rebuilt in south Lebanon and used as a terrorist base will be destroyed, any rearming or terrorist organization will be attacked, any attempt at transferring arms will be foiled, and any threat against our forces or our citizens will be immediately eliminated.” Lebanese leaders have dismissed such an agreement as an unacceptable breach of Lebanon’s sovereignty. The ceasefire would officially be an agreement between Israel and Lebanon. It includes a Lebanese lawmaker who has been negotiating on Hezbollah’s behalf. But Hezbollah, a paramilitary faction and political party which is backed by Iran, is not officially a party to the agreement. Another question is the fate of Hezbollah’s weapons. Before the war, the group was considered one of the world’s premier paramilitary factions, with an arsenal more powerful than that of the Lebanese army. The ceasefire agreement, which is based on a U.N. resolution that established a ceasefire in the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, has provisions that would force the group to surrender its arms. A ceasefire would end a 13-month conflict that began a day after Hamas attacked southern Israel, when Hezbollah initiated a rocket campaign in northern Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. In the months of tit-for-tat strikes that followed, some 60,000 people from northern Israel and approximately 100,000 Lebanese from southern Lebanon were displaced. In September, Israel escalated its attacks, conducting thousands of airstrikes on Hezbollah-dominated parts of the country and starting an invasion that saw Israeli troops enter southern Lebanon for the first time since 2006. It also assassinated Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah . Since Oct. 8, 2023, more than 3,823 people have been killed in Lebanon and 15,859 injured, according to Lebanese government data, the majority of them in the last two months. More than 25% of those killed were women and children, according to the government data, which do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Meanwhile, some 1.2 million people — almost a quarter of Lebanon’s population — have been displaced, with wide swaths of the country destroyed. The Israeli government said on Tuesday that 78 Israelis have been killed in attacks by Hezbollah and its allies, including 47 civilians. Even as senior Israeli ministers were meeting at Israeli military headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israeli warplanes launched some 180 airstrikes across the country, according to a statement from Israel’s military. It issued evacuation warnings for some cities. The military said it was targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure, including the group’s financial arm. Among the targets were four neighborhoods of central Beirut with which had previously been spared from the fighting. One raid hit Hamra, a popular shopping district in the capital which in recent months has become a sanctuary for hundreds of thousands displaced from the Dahieh, the constellation of suburbs south of Beirut where many of Hezbollah’s offices are headquartered. The Dahieh too was pounded by an intense barrage of more than 20 airstrikes, leaving the area obscured by a curtain of smoke and rocking buildings in adjacent neighborhoods. “The hysterical Israeli aggression this evening on Beirut and various Lebanese regions, which specifically targets civilians, confirms once again that the Israeli enemy does not respect any law or consideration,” said Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati in a statement on Tuesday. He called on the international community “to act quickly to stop this aggression and implement an immediate ceasefire.” Meanwhile, Hezbollah continued its barrage against northern Israel, lobbing dozens of projectiles across the border. ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Comerica Inc. stock outperforms competitors despite losses on the day

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Issa brothers closing in on £13bn New York listing By CITY & FINANCE REPORTER Updated: 21:52, 29 December 2024 e-mail 1 View comments The billionaire Issa brothers are eyeing a £13billion US listing for their petrol station empire, in a fresh snub for London. EG Group could make its market debut next year, in what means a huge payout for Zuber and Mohsin Issa. Banks have been lined up for a float, according to reports in Mergermarket and The Sunday Telegraph. The company could be valued at around £13billion – 13 times last year's annual profits of £1.1billion. Happy days: EG Group could make its market debut next year, in what means a huge payout for Zuber and Mohsin Issa RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Asda's woes continue as it becomes the only major... Asda hires former boss to revive its fortunes Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account The New York stock market is thought to be the preferred bourse because the US is EG Group's biggest market. The group operates 1,500 convenience stores on petrol forecourts including brands Cumberland Farms and Quik Stop. DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS AJ Bell AJ Bell Easy investing and ready-made portfolios Learn More Learn More Hargreaves Lansdown Hargreaves Lansdown Free fund dealing and investment ideas Learn More Learn More interactive investor interactive investor Flat-fee investing from £4.99 per month Learn More Learn More Saxo Saxo Get £200 back in trading fees Learn More Learn More Trading 212 Trading 212 Free dealing and no account fee Learn More Learn More Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence. Compare the best investing account for you Share or comment on this article: Issa brothers closing in on £13bn New York listing e-mail Add comment Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.

Ian Schieffelin, Clemson topple Penn State to win Sunshine Slam

HARRISBURG — The next step toward faster permits in Pennsylvania starts with a simpler application process. So says Gov. Josh Shapiro, who traveled to Hazle Township in Luzerne County last week to sign an executive order launching the Pennsylvania Permit Fast Track Program, intended to improve efficiency for complex development projects in the commonwealth. The press conference was held at the site of a newly completed warehouse developed by NorthPoint Development, a primary player in the Hazelnut Project, a 1,300-acre technology campus in Hazle Township that will house tech infrastructure. “This new development will help PA continue to stay at the front of the pack when it comes to attracting jobs to the area,” said NorthPoint Vice President Brian Stahl. The governor’s office hopes to shake off Pennsylvania’s reputation for red tape and slow starts. The Fast Track program should reduce the time it takes for projects, like the one in Hazle Township, to get off the ground and create jobs along the way. The program tasks the Office of Transportation and Opportunity – another Shapiro administration creation via executive order – with overseeing complex high-impact economic development and infrastructure projects. Other work already underway includes the Bellwether District in Philadelphia and the Martinsburg Community Digester. For initiatives within the program, the office serves as a shepherd, facilitating the connections, applications and studies required to move a project forward. Key to the program is a public-facing dashboard that shows progress on the work being done, providing increased transparency for stakeholders affected by ongoing development projects. “Today’s executive order strengthens that critical partnership between private developers and permitting agencies, fostering a streamlined, transparent, and effective process,” Stahl said. “This collaboration accelerates investments, creates meaningful jobs, generates vital tax revenue, and further strengthens the economy for all Pennsylvanians.” Hazleton’s Republican mayor, Jeff Cusat, spoke about the common ground he shares with the Democratic governor. “Under my leadership, we’ve made critical updates to our code department, issuing thousands of permits and business licenses,” he said. “I’m glad to see the state also taking action to speed up their permitting processes.” “It takes everyone working together to get a project like this over the finish line and the township has worked incredibly hard to make this a successful public-private partnership,” said Dr. Anthony Grigoli, chairman of the Township Supervisors Board for Hazle Township. If the program can build upon the successes of earlier phases of the administration’s economic plan, which have dramatically slashed wait times in licensing and permitting processes across industries, officials believe the state can draw new business that may have been otherwise deterred by red tape. Brian Kirshner, who leads the Office of Transportation and Opportunity, hopes to see the state perform more competitively. “Speed and service are what companies care about,” he said.THE car’s glovebox is opened and hidden switches are flicked, then a magnet is placed next to the steering wheel, causing the front seats to rise upwards. The movement reveals a secret storage hole beneath, which stretches under the footwell. 7 Border Force regional boss David Smith with a haul of drugs found in a family car Credit: Darren Fletcher 7 Border Force invited The Sun's Thea Jacobs behind the scenes at the Port of Dover to see the daily battles its staff face to keep our streets safe Credit: Darren Fletcher But this modified family car is not something from a James Bond film, but a smuggler’s vehicle, crafted to transport millions of pounds-worth of Class A drugs across the English Channel for sale on our streets. It is a sight all too familiar to Britain’s Border Force staff, who are encountering increasingly sophisticated ways of hiding drugs, cash, illegal cigarettes, guns and even people. Border Force invited The Sun behind the scenes at the Port of Dover to see for ourselves the daily battles its staff face to keep our streets safe. The agency’s South East Regional Director David Smith said: “We’re always broadening our techniques to make sure we stay one step ahead of the smugglers. READ MORE ON DRUG CRIME LOTTO LOUT Lottery winner who blew £100,000 scooped from a scratchcard is now facing jail SPINELESS Psychedelic drugs or back pain... what drove suspect to assassinate CEO? “Over the years, trends change and we’re always adapting to make sure we can find everything possible. Some of the concealments that are used to bring in illegal items are very technical.” Street value of millions But thanks to its specialists at ports across the UK, Border Force is finding more contraband than ever. The first six months of 2024 saw 92 per cent more illegal drugs intercepted, with 22,719 seizures, than in the same period in 2023. This included 19 tonnes of cocaine and 412kg of ketamine , and the force has intercepted the largest batch of pink cocaine — a drug cocktail that can contain ketamine, ecstasy, meth and crack — headed for the UK. Most read in The Sun FAIR CARNAGE Horror as Birmingham fairground ride 'collapses' with several people injured STAYING POSITIVE Max George to undergo major heart surgery after terrifying health scare ALL CHANGE Another Rangers executive quits club just a week after key role at club's AGM NEWBORN JOY Huge Scots DJ becomes dad as he reveals baby boy in emotional social media post Officers found 100kg of the new party drug hidden in a vehicle alongside 40kg of ketamine and 30kg of MDMA , or ecstasy, as it is known in tablet form. David said: “Pink cocaine can be made from various drugs, like MDMA, ecstasy and ketamine, but we’re now seeing it being mixed with some very nasty drugs including [synthetic opioids] fentanyl and nitazenes. Moment police raid sick drugs smuggler's home after thug ‘used kids as mules’ “While it looks like a manufactured pill, you won’t know what you are getting.” The substance, which is hugely popular in drug hotspots such as Ibiza, is still relatively rare in the UK. Another smugglers’ vehicle discovered by the team was a white van with a hidden compartment under its wooden floor, which could only be opened by placing a magnet in a certain position. We’re always broadening our techniques to stay one step ahead of the smugglers. Some of the concealments that are used to bring in illegal items are very technical Border Force's David Smith It was big enough to hide Class A drugs worth several million pounds. The force also seized a gas canister which sounded as if it contained liquid, and released gas when the valve was opened, but had a hollow section that could fit up to 20kg of narcotics. It was found when officers noticed wear and tear where it wasn’t expected. It is not unusual to find a mixture of drugs destined for different British gangs once they arrive on UK soil. David said: “Transporters of drugs are a bit like taxi services for gangs. “Some organised crime groups don’t have a method of transportation, and it’s usually passed to a third party who sorts it. It means that we can find products for multiple gangs in one vehicle.” In the first six months of this year Border Force also made 18,000 seizures of herbal cannabis, equalling 41 tonnes. David has been working for Border Force for more than three decades and has seen a big change in the volume of party drugs trafficked to the UK. He said: “We used to see a lot more Class B drugs but now the quantity of Class A coming in has massively increased. “In the first six months of this year we have seized 19 tonnes of cocaine, which would have a street value of £425million. Getting these drugs in is big business for gangs. “The 92 per cent increase we’ve seen compared to last year in the first six months is thanks to the dedicated officers. We have the most highly skilled officers anywhere in the world, and we work 24/7 to keep the UK safe.” Vehicles which are chosen to be searched are selected with the help of technology, plus trained officers who can “read” the drivers’ and passengers’ behaviour — and a spot of four-legged assistance. Transporters of drugs are a bit like taxi services for gangs David Among those working a shift when The Sun visited was two-year-old cocker spaniel Glenn, who demonstrated how quickly the dogs in the Dover team — other cocker spaniels, some springer spaniels and a Labrador — can find drugs. 7 Border Force’s Glenn the dog sniffs out illegal substances Credit: Darren Fletcher 7 Fuel tanks were cut open to reveal a stash of pink cocaine Credit: Darren Fletcher It took him just seconds to identify a car boot as storing illegal substances, which he did simply by sitting down and looking at his handler. But while the dogs are not always able to sniff out the contraband, a non-indication from them does not mean a search won’t take place. The searches can be intelligence-led from tip-offs from Europol, Interpol or domestic police, and are also carried out when officers spot abnormalities and when drivers are spotted behaving strangely. The Border Force agents are determined that nothing they come across will put them off their pursuit of the smugglers, no matter how bizarre it might seem. And it doesn’t matter how disgusting the circumstances are either. Hidden in manure In a bid to avoid a search, some gangs cover their drugs in manure or grease, hoping it will hide the drugs’ smell from the dogs. We were also shown a video which demonstrated how 225kg of methamphetamines, known on the streets as meth, had been placed inside an industrial magnet and welded shut. Another showed how 16kg of cocaine had been concealed in a hidden section of a Hyundai’s boot which could only be opened using a certain set of switches. It is not just the gangs’ contraband that is targeted by the Border Force staff. They often seize their means of smuggling too, even when no drugs have been found. David said: “Sometimes we detect vehicles that have been adapted for transporting drugs or money around the UK that are destined for county lines gangs. The volume of drugs we’ve detected here and across the country this year shows that we are very good at what we do David “We often have vehicles brought to us from elsewhere in the UK to search and find the concealments within them. “This is because our officers are some of the most highly trained in the world, and finding these compartments can be really tricky. “The volume of drugs we’ve detected here and across the country this year shows that we are very good at what we do. “We just want to stop the bad guys.” Seema Malhotra, Minister for Migration and Citizenship, said: “Party drugs like pink cocaine are illegal and highly dangerous. “Border Force are working around the clock to seize illegal drugs and help to keep our streets and our communities safer this Christmas party season. “Thanks to their expertise and vigilance, they are successfully intercepting these dangerous substances at our borders with increasing success. Read more on the Scottish Sun WARMING UP Scots set for 21C swing as temperature rise to bring an end to sub zero freeze HOT BUY Shoppers race to Primark for fleecy £14 hoodie will keep you cosy on frosty days “Young people must be in no doubt about the harmful effects of the synthetic substances found in party drugs, which can often be a deadly concoction of chemicals that can have devastating consequences, ruining theirs and their loved ones’ lives. “My message to people going out over the festive people is to stay safe, and to the evil criminals lining their pockets — you will be caught and will face the full force of the law.” 7 100kg of methamphetamine was found inside an industrial magnet Credit: Supplied 7 A rotating number plate on a drug smuggler’s vehicle Credit: Darren Fletcher 7 Border Force seized the illegal gear Credit: Darren Fletcher

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 9, 2024-- Liberty Broadband Corporation (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK, LBRDP) today announced that its Board of Directors declared the regular quarterly cash dividend payable to holders of its Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”) (Nasdaq: LBRDP). The per share amount of the quarterly cash dividend will be $0.43750001, payable in cash on January 15, 2025 to holders of record of the Preferred Stock at the close of business on December 31, 2024 (the “Record Date”). About Liberty Broadband Corporation Liberty Broadband Corporation (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK, LBRDP) operates and owns interests in a broad range of communications businesses. Liberty Broadband’s principal assets consist of its interest in Charter Communications and its subsidiary GCI. GCI is Alaska’s largest communications provider, providing data, wireless, video, voice and managed services to consumer and business customers throughout Alaska and nationwide. GCI has delivered services over the past 40 years to some of the most remote communities and in some of the most challenging conditions in North America. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209914110/en/ CONTACT: Liberty Broadband Corporation Shane Kleinstein, 720-875-5432 KEYWORD: COLORADO UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: DATA MANAGEMENT CONSUMER ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY TELECOMMUNICATIONS MOBILE/WIRELESS INTERNET CARRIERS AND SERVICES SOURCE: Liberty Broadband Corporation Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/09/2024 04:15 PM/DISC: 12/09/2024 04:13 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209914110/enNone

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump was on the verge of backing a 16-week federal abortion ban earlier this year when aides staged an intervention. According to Time magazine's cover story on his selection as its 2024 Person of the Year, Trump's aides first raised concerns in mid-March that the abortion cutoff being pushed by some allies would be stricter than existing law in numerous states. It was seen as a potential political liability amid ongoing fallout over the overturning of Roe v. Wade by a conservative majority on the Supreme Court that includes three justices nominated by Trump in his first term. Trump political director James Blair went to work assembling a slide deck — eventually titled “How a national abortion ban will cost Trump the election" — that argued a 16-week ban would hurt the Republican candidate in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, the magazine reported. “After flipping through Blair’s presentation" on a flight to a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in April, Trump dropped the idea, according to the report. "So we leave it to the states, right?" Trump was quoted as saying. He soon released a video articulating that position. At the time, Trump’s campaign denied that he was considering supporting the 16-week ban, calling it “fake news” and saying Trump planned to “negotiate a deal” on abortion if elected to the White House. Here are other highlights from the story and the president-elect's 65-minute interview with the magazine: Trump reaffirmed his plans to pardon most of those convicted for their actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. “It’s going to start in the first hour,” he said of the pardons. “Maybe the first nine minutes.” Trump said he would look at individuals on a “case-by-case" basis, but that “a vast majority of them should not be in jail.” More than 1,500 people have been charged with federal crimes stemming from the riot that left more than 100 police officers injured and sent lawmakers running into hiding as they met to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 victory . More than 1,000 defendants have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial of charges, including misdemeanor trespassing offenses, assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy. Trump insisted he has the authority to use the military to assist with his promised mass deportations , even though, as his interviewers noted, the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the use of the military in domestic law enforcement. “It doesn’t stop the military if it’s an invasion of our country, and I consider it an invasion of our country," he said. “I’ll only do what the law allows, but I will go up to the maximum level of what the law allows. And I think in many cases, the sheriffs and law enforcement is going to need help." Trump did not deny that camps would be needed to hold detained migrants as they are processed for deportation. “Whatever it takes to get them out. I don’t care," he said. “I hope we’re not going to need too many because I want to get them out and I don’t want them sitting in camp for the next 20 years.” Trump told Time he does not plan to restore the policy of separating children from their families to deter border crossings, but he did not rule it out. The practice led to thousands of children being separated from their parents and was condemned around the globe as inhumane. “I don’t believe we’ll have to because we will send the whole family back,” he said. “I would much rather deport them together, yes, than separate.” Trump dismissed the idea that Elon Musk will face conflicts of interest as he takes the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency , an advisory group that Trump has selected him to lead. The panel is supposed to find waste and cut regulations, including many that could affect Musk's wide-ranging interests , which include electric cars, rockets and telecommunications. “I don’t think so," Trump said. “I think that Elon puts the country long before his company. ... He considers this to be his most important project." Trump lowered expectations about his ability to drive down grocery prices. “I’d like to bring them down. It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up. You know, it’s very hard. But I think that they will,” he said. Trump said he is planning “a virtual closure" of the "Department of Education in Washington.” “You’re going to need some people just to make sure they’re teaching English in the schools," he said. “But we want to move education back to the states.” Yet Trump has proposed exerting enormous influence over schools. He has threatened to cut funding for schools with vaccine mandates while forcing them to “teach students to love their country" and promote “the nuclear family,” including “the roles of mothers and fathers” and the “things that make men and women different and unique.” Asked to clarify whether he was committed to preventing the Food and Drug Administration from stripping access to abortion pills , Trump replied, “It’s always been my commitment.” But Trump has offered numerous conflicting stances on the issue, including to Time. Earlier in the interview, he was asked whether he would promise that his FDA would not do anything to limit access to medication abortion or abortion pills. "We’re going to take a look at all of that,” he said, before calling the prospect “very unlikely.” “Look, I’ve stated it very clearly and I just stated it again very clearly. I think it would be highly unlikely. I can’t imagine, but with, you know, we’re looking at everything, but highly unlikely. I guess I could say probably as close to ruling it out as possible, but I don’t want to. I don’t want to do anything now.” Pressed on whether he would abandon Ukraine in its efforts to stave off Russia's invasion , Trump said he would use U.S. support for Kyiv as leverage against Moscow in negotiating an end to the war. “I want to reach an agreement,” he said, “and the only way you’re going to reach an agreement is not to abandon.” Trump would not commit to supporting a two-state solution, with a Palestinian state alongside Israel, as he had previously. “I support whatever solution we can do to get peace," he said. "There are other ideas other than two state, but I support whatever, whatever is necessary to get not just peace, a lasting peace. It can’t go on where every five years you end up in tragedy. There are other alternatives.” Asked whether he trusted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , he told Time: “I don’t trust anybody.” Trump would not rule out the possibility of war with Iran during his second term. “Anything can happen. It’s a very volatile situation," he said. Asked if he has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin since the Nov. 5 election, Trump continued to play coy: "I can’t tell you. It’s just inappropriate.” Trump insisted that his bid to install Matt Gaetz as attorney general ”wasn’t blocked. I had the votes (in the Senate) if I needed them, but I had to work very hard.” When the scope of resistance to the former Republican congressman from Florida became clear, Trump said, “I talked to him, and I said, ‘You know, Matt, I don’t think this is worth the fight.'" Gaetz pulled out amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations, and Trump tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the Cabinet post. Trump, who has named anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, did not rule out the possibility of eliminating some childhood vaccinations even though they have been proved safe in extensive studies and real world use in hundreds of millions of people over decades and are considered among the most effective public health measures in modern history. Pressed on whether “getting rid of some vaccinations” — neither Trump nor the interviewers specified which ones — might be part of the plan to improve the health of the country, Trump responded: “It could if I think it’s dangerous, if I think they are not beneficial, but I don’t think it’s going to be very controversial in the end.” “I think there could be, yeah," Trump said of the prospect of others in his family continuing in his footsteps. He pointed to daughter-in-law Lara Trump , who served as co-chair of the Republican National Committee and is now being talked about as a potential replacement for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, whom Trump has chosen for secretary of state. Trump said the former and soon-to-be first lady Melania Trump will be joining him at the White House during second term and will "be active, when she needs to be.” “Oh yes,” he said. “She’s very beloved by the people, Melania. And they like the fact that she’s not out there in your face all the time for many reasons.”NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points. Judge had discussed the MVP award with Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper, the NL winner in 2015 and ’21. “I was telling him, `Man, I’m going to try to catch up to you with these MVPs here, man,’” Judge recalled. “He’d say, hopefully, he could stay a couple ahead of me, which I think he’ll do.” Ohtani was unanimously voted the AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels and finished second to Judge in 2022 voting . He didn’t pitch in 2024 following elbow surgery and signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. He was the first player to twice become an unanimous MVP. He combined with Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. in 2023 for the first year both MVPs were unanimous. Ohtani hit .310, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs exclusively as a designated hitter, becoming the first player with 50 or more homers and 50 or more stolen bases in a season. He helped the Dodgers to the World Series title , playing the final three games with a torn labrum in his left shoulder . Ohtani became the first primary DH to win an MVP. He joined Frank Robinson for Cincinnati in 1961 and Baltimore in 1966 as the only players to win the MVP award in both leagues. Ohtani is the 12th player with three or more MVPs, joining Barry Bonds (seven) and Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout (three each). Balloting was conducted before the postseason. Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Witt topped the big leagues with a .332 average, hitting 32 homers with 31 stolen bases and 109 RBIs. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs. When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. He is the Yankees' 22nd MVP winner, four more than any other team. Judge was hitting .207 with six homers and 18 RBIs through April, then batted .352 with 52 homers and 126 RBIs in 127 games. “March and April were not my friend this year.” Judge said. “Just keep putting in the work and things are going to change. You can’t mope. You can’t feel sorry for yourself. Especially in New York, nobody’s going to feel sorry for you. So you just got to go out there and put up the numbers?” Balloting was conducted before the postseason. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

NoneJimmy Carter has been one of the classic examples of Democratic politics in the US history book for decades, but one feather is now going to be added to the cap of the former US President. Carter, who served as president from 1977 to 1981, by running as a Democrat, ruled with an iron fist during his tenure. He passed away at the age of 100, the Carter Centre , an organization founded by him, has confirmed. ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for Reuters Former US President Jimmy Carter Has Jimmy Carter set a new record? With the death of Jimmy Carter, he sets the record for living longer than any president in American history. He had just celebrated his 100th birthday a couple of months before, and has been a pivotal example of ruling the country smoothly through a epic period of economic and diplomatic crisis. Even though he had to leave the White House with a dent on his legacy, based on his low approval ratings, he bounced back into the political forefront, when he ended up winning the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work. Carter to remain an idol of humanitarian work? The record of being the oldest President to have lived may not be broken in the coming years now, and his new record is going to stay safe, along with a refresher course for the new generation of Americans about the former President. He will always be remembered in history as one of the champions of human rights, claim reports. Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrows Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program FAQs: Is Jimmy Carter dead ? Yes, Jimmy Carter has passed away at the age of 100, the Carter Centre has confirmed. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )

WallitIQ (WLTQ) has become a sensation in the crypto market, breaking records by raising over $1 million in an incredibly short time, with more investments coming in. The WallitIQ (WLTQ) presale offers a rare chance to join a revolutionary project that brings fresh ideas to the decentralized wallet landscape. At the WallitIQ (WLTQ) presale price of just $0.0171 , the WallitIQ (WLTQ) token offers an accessible entry point for smart investors who see the potential in this groundbreaking technology. Designed with modern crypto users in mind, WallitIQ (WLTQ) addresses key challenges faced by enthusiasts in the crypto market today. The WallitIQ (WLTQ) presale has drawn significant attention and raised over $1 million in the crypto market due to the features and functionality of its wallet ecosystem. WallitIQ (WLTQ) prioritizes user protection by incorporating biometric and facial authentication . This eliminates the need for traditional passwords and minimizes security risks. 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(AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau returned home Saturday after his meeting with Donald Trump without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on all products from the major American trading partner. Trump called the talks “productive” but signaled no retreat from a pledge that Canada says unfairly lumps it in with Mexico over the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. After the leaders’ hastily arranged dinner Friday night at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trudeau spoke of “an excellent conversation" and said in a post later Saturday on X, accompanied by a photo of the two men seated a table and smiling, that he looked forward to “the work we can do together, again.” Trump said earlier on Truth Social that they discussed “many important topics that will require both Countries to work together to address.” For issues in need of such cooperation, Trump cited fentanyl and the “Drug Crisis that has decimated so many lives as a result of Illegal Immigration," fair trade deals "that do not jeopardize American Workers” and the U.S. trade deficit with its ally to the north. Trump asserted that the prime minister had made “a commitment to work with us to end this terrible devastation” of American families from fentanyl from China reaching the United States through its neighbors. The U.S., he said, “will no longer sit idly by as our Citizens become victims to the scourge of this Drug Epidemic.” The Republican president-elect has threatened to impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders when he takes office in January. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. On immigration, the U.S. Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian border between October 2023 and September 2024 — and Canadian officials say they are ready to make new investments in border security. Trudeau called Trump after the Republican's social media posts about the tariffs last Monday and they agreed to meet, according to a official familiar with the matter who was not authorized to publicly discuss detail of the private talks. The official said other countries are calling Canadian officials to hear how about how the meeting was arranged and to ask for advice. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, after speaking with Trump on the telephone, said Thursday she was confident a tariff war with Washington would be averted. At the dinner that was said to last three hours, Trump said he and Trudeau also discussed energy, trade and the Arctic. A second official cited defense, Ukraine, NATO, China, the Mideast, pipelines and the Group of Seven meeting in Canada next year as other issues that arose. Trudeau's office said in a statement that the leaders “shared a productive wide-ranging discussion” centering on “collaboration and strengthening our relationship,” adding, "As Canada’s closest friend and ally, the United States is our key partner, and we are committed to working together in the interests of Canadians and Americans.” Trump, during his first term as president, once called Trudeau “weak” and “dishonest,” but it was the prime minister who was the first G7 leader to visit Trump since the Nov. 5 election. "Tariffs are a crucial issue for Canada and a bold move was in order. Perhaps it was a risk, but a risk worth taking,” Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal. Trudeau had said before leaving from Friday that Trump was elected because he promised to bring down the cost of groceries but now was talking about adding 25% to the cost of all kinds of products, including potatoes from Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada. “It is important to understand that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. There’s no question about it,” Trudeau said. “Our responsibility is to point out that he would not just be harming Canadians, who work so well with the United States, but he would actually be raising prices for Americans citizens as well and hurting American industry and business,” he added. The threatened tariffs could essentially blow up the North American trade pact that Trump’s team negotiated during his first term. Trudeau noted they were able to successfully renegotiate the deal, which he calls a “win win” for both countries. When Trump imposed higher tariffs as president, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for instance, announced billions of new duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US $2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security. Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and 77% of Canada’s exports go to the U.S. ___ Gillies reported from Toronto.

US stocks fell on Monday as tech sector risks and upcoming inflation data worried investors. Nvidia shares dropped 3% on China's probe into its 2020 acquisition of Mellanox. Investors await inflation data to gauge the potential for more Fed interest rate cuts. US stocks retreated from record highs on Monday as investors assessed a potential risk in the technology sector and prepared for new inflation data. Tech stocks led Monday's session lower, with Nvidia shares one of the biggest losers. The chipmaker's stock fell about 3% after China launched a probe into the company, investigating whether the company potentially violated anti-monpoly rules in its 2020 acquisition of chip design company Mellanox. Nvidia originally received approval from Chinese regulators to complete the deal in 2020, but regulators are now investigating whether Nvidia violated the deal's conditions. "The move comes shortly after the Biden Administration clamped down on the types of products the company can export to China to limit the country's ability to expand its military technology, causing some observers to question if the lawsuit is retaliatory or a pre-emptive move in anticipation of new tariffs," José Torres, senior economist at Interactive Brokers said on Monday. Investors are also awaiting key inflation data later this week, which should help determine whether the Federal Reserve will pursue further interest rate cuts. The November consumer price index will be released Wednesday morning and is expected to show a slight uptick from October. Economists expect the year-over-year CPI to rise to 2.7% compared to 2.6% in October. Bank of America economists expect month-over-month Core CPI to be 0.2%, and said anything above that level could be consequential for interest rates. "We are looking for a 0.2% m/m print. If that proves correct, we think it will greenlight a Fed cut in December. That said, recent Fed speak suggests it will be a live meeting and cuts beyond December aren't a guarantee," Bank of America said in a Monday note. Markets are currently pricing in an 86% chance of a 25 basis point interest rate cut from the Fed next week, according to the CME FedWatch tool. Here's where US indexes stood at the 4:00 p.m. closing bell on Monday: S&P 500 : 6,052.85, down 0.61% Dow Jones Industrial Average : 44,401.93, down 0.54% (-240.59 points) Nasdaq composite : 19,736.69, down 0.62% Here's what else happened today: These are the big economic pitfalls facing the incoming Trump presidency, according to Neil Dutta. Gen Xers are struggling to save for retirement as they take care of both their kids and parents. These are the 10 best performing stocks that debuted in 2024. A longtime stock market bear is rethinking his view after this year's strong rally. Warren Buffett's favorite stock market valuation indicator has 2 big flaws, according to Morgan Stanley. Luigi Mangione was named as a person of interest in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and arrested. In commodities, bonds, and crypto: West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 1.41% to $68.15 a barrel. Brent crude , the international benchmark, was higher by 1.14% to $71.93 a barrel. Gold increased 0.77% to $2,680.20 an ounce. The 10-year Treasury yield increased 3 basis points to 4.202%. Bitcoin fell 4.78% to $96,357.

Rachel Lindsay was seen spending a lot of time this weekend with what may be a new male companion who has ties to a major A-list artist ... TMZ has learned. Witnesses tell us the former "Bachelorette" star and Willie Jones, who collaborated on Beyonce 's Cowboy Carter album, were spotted together on Friday at iHeart’s Jingle Ball in Los Angeles. We're told the two enjoyed each other's company in the Patrón Lounge suite, where they sat closely, chatting, and laughing throughout the night. Our witnesses say when T-Pain hit the stage, the pair got up to dance. The two continued to spend time together over the weekend. On Sunday, they were spotted shopping at the Melrose Trading Post, where a store called Blk Rchvs posted a photo of them on social media. In the snap, Willie is seen with his arm around Rachel, fueling even more questions about their status. While it’s unclear whether the two are romantically involved, one witness told us Rachel appeared "the happiest she's been in a long time." Willie is also known for his 2012 appearance on "The X Factor" at the age of 17. Rachel is still navigating a nasty divorce from her ex-husband, Bryan Abasolo . The two, who met on "The Bachelor" in 2017 and married in 2019, separated in December 2023 after four years of marriage. We reached out to Rachel's camp for comment ... so far, no word back.Chiefs keep winning despite an O-line problem that has wreaked havoc with their offenseJohnson scores 33 as Tennessee Tech knocks off NAIA-member Milligan 95-75

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Guest Opinion: What will the military do if Trump gives unconstitutional orders? by ML Cavanaugh

Chris Dods joined First Hawaiian bank in 2007 in the Card Services Division where he oversaw credit and debit card product development, operations, and compliance. Over time, his responsibilities grew to include marketing, corporate communications, digital banking, and all consumer products. In 2021 he was promoted to Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer and given oversight of Enterprise Technology Management, Enterprise Operations Services, Data and Analytics, and Strategy and Transformation. “Chris has been a key member of our management team and has made significant contributions to FHB during his time at the bank,” said Bob Harrison, Chairman, President, and CEO.“Under his leadership, we have made great strides in modernizing the bank and creating a user-friendly, highly functional digital experience for both our consumer and business customers. We would like to thank Chris for his contributions and wish him well in his future endeavors.” “My career here will always be a source of pride, and my love for the people and the organization can never be overstated,” said First Hawaiian, Inc. COO Chris Dods.“It has been a privilege to work at such a fine and storied institution as First Hawaiian Bank.” First Hawaiian, Inc. First Hawaiian, Inc. (NASDAQ: FHB) is a bank holding company headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii. Its principal subsidiary, First Hawaiian Bank, founded in 1858 under the name Bishop & Company, is Hawaii's largest financial institution with branch locations throughout Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan. The company offers a comprehensive suite of banking services to consumer and commercial customers including deposit products, loans, wealth management, insurance, trust, retirement planning, credit card and merchant processing services. Customers may also access their accounts through ATMs, online and mobile banking channels. For more information about First Hawaiian, Inc., visit the Company's website, . A photo accompanying this announcement is available at MENAFN26122024004107003653ID1109033385 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

The Governor of Yucatan, Joaquin Diaz Mena, explained the competitive advantages and benefits that Yucatan offers for conducting high-end businesses. When participating in a discussion with attendees at the XXVI Annual Franchise Convention, Diaz Mena continued to position the state as a national benchmark in economic development and innovation. He highlighted the achievements made thanks to public policies focused on security, infrastructure, and the strengthening of human capital. These actions, he said, have allowed Yucatan to consolidate itself as one of the most attractive states for private investment, with key sectors such as tourism, agribusiness, and technology advancing by leaps and bounds. In a meeting with national and international franchisees, the governor underlined the benefits of the state: a trained workforce, social stability, and strategic connectivity with the rest of the country and abroad. In addition, projects such as the expansion of the Port of Progreso and the Mayan Train promise to further integrate Yucatan into the global economy, opening up new opportunities for local and foreign industries. At this event, which is being held for the first time in the state and is attended by representatives and owners of franchises of national and international brands, Díaz Mena stressed that investing in the state is safe thanks to its advantages and characteristics, including being the most peaceful state in Mexico. In addressing his message, and in the presence of the president of the Mexican Franchise Association, Mario Alberto Briceño Martínez, Díaz Mena thanked the trust placed in Yucatan for the realization of this event. He assured me that this is one more motivation to continue working on attracting business leaders who head national and international companies and brands, who are an example for other Mexicans who wish to enter this market. Together with the Vice President of International Affairs of the same organization, Mary Carmen Cabrera Cisneros, and the Secretary of Economic Development and Labor of the state, Ermilo Barrera Novelo, the governor highlighted that Yucatán has a wide range of tourist attractions and resources. This added to the logistics platform promoted by his administration and nearshoring, makes the state an ideal destination for local and global companies to invest. In addition, the Governor detailed the projects in the pipeline, developed in coordination with the Federal Government, which seek to contribute to the economic growth of the state as part of the Mayan Renaissance. These include the expansion and modernization of the Progreso Deepwater Port, the branch of the Mayan Train from Umán to the port, the Metropolitan Ring in Mérida, the Industrial Well-being Poles and various clean energy initiatives. These projects, Díaz Mena explained, aim to attract new companies that generate better-paid jobs for Yucatecans. In addition, the educational preparation of students is promoted so that they acquire the required skills, tourism focused on various sectors is encouraged, and the appropriate conditions are created for companies to establish themselves efficiently. “I am sure that you, as franchisors who have managed to market products and brands that already represent 5% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, will be well received in Yucatan. This state welcomes you with open doors, with a view to the Mayan Renaissance allowing all the communities of the state to receive the benefits of the economic spillover,” Díaz Mena stressed. For his part, the president of the Mexican Franchise Association, Mario Alberto Briceño Martínez, accompanied by Simon Bartholomew, general secretary of the World Franchise Council, expressed his pride in holding this event in the safest state in the country. “Thank you, Huacho, for your hospitality and for allowing us to learn about the benefits of one of the most prosperous states in Mexico,” he concluded.MORGANTOWN – The window to postseason eligibility is quickly closing for both the West Virginia University and UCF football teams. There’s still some room left for the Mountaineers to wiggle into a bowl game, though not much. They need to win one of their last two games to qualify for the postseason. For the Knights, the window is almost shut. UCF must sweep their last two games to earn the six wins necessary to guarantee eligibility. Both teams understand the stakes of today’s 3:30 p.m. matchup at Milan Puskar Stadium (ESPNU). The Mountaineers and Knights are both backed against the wall. If the Mountaineers lose, they enter their regular season finale at Texas Tech with everything on the line. If the Knights lose, they slump into their last game with nothing to play for but pride. “We’re looking forward to two more opportunities that are guaranteed,” WVU tight end Kole Taylor said. “You can’t dwell upon what happened in the past.” Yet it’s past play that put both the Mountaineers (5-5, 4-3 Big 12) and the Knights (4-6, 2-5 Big 12) in their current predicaments. Both teams entered the season with much higher hopes than they have right now, wanting to finish at or near the top of the conference standings with a chance at the Big 12 title game. Inconsistency and poor defense has done WVU in. The Mountaineers have pulled off some good road wins, but have fizzled at home, thanks in large part to a pass defense ranked near the bottom of the Football Bowl Subdivision in several key categories. If WVU falls today in Morgantown, it will be only the second season in program history with five losses. The Knights opened the 2024 campaign strong with three straight wins, but have lost five of their last six, including five in a row midseason. UCF’s pass defense has struggled this year, too. It has allowed 19 passing touchdowns so far, tied for 108th in the FBS, compared to the 21 allowed by WVU which is tied for 120th. The Knights are 96th nationally allowing 239.5 passing yards per game, compared to WVU’s 269.6 passing yards allowed per game, which ranks 127th. As it stands, both teams lean on their running games to carry their respective offenses. WVU ranks 27th at 197.2 rushing yards per game. Only Army gains more on the ground than UCF’s 262.8 yards per game. The Knights are led by running back R.J. Harvey, who is tied for third nationally at 132.8 rushing yards per game. WVU coach Neal Brown sees the strengths in his team, but said the Mountaineers are still searching for a game when all those strengths come together and show out at the same time. “I don’t mean to sound like a broken record but, to me, it’s about playing well – special teams, offense and defense at the same time, and we haven’t done that enough consistently,” he said. “We’ve been an inconsistent football team. That’s why we’re 5-5, because we’ve been inconsistent. And so to me, it’s how do we finish out this month? Playing at our best in those three phases together? All right, if we can do that, then we’ll be a really good football team.” The Mountaineer players agree that they need complete games in their last two contests to make sure they can play in their fourth bowl in five seasons. There is a greater sense of urgency around the locker room, Taylor said, as the players understand what another inconsistent performance can cost them. “We understand that there’s two (games) to win one,” he said, “just to get an extra game and have an opportunity to play in the postseason. We understand that’s where we’re at and that’s the team we are. “Whether we want to be in that situation or not, that’s the situation we’re in,” Taylor continued. “We’ve got to win at least one more to get a bowl game, but we want to win out.”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Coach Brian Callahan is sticking with Mason Rudolph at quarterback for a second straight game to see if the Tennessee Titans can build on the veteran who's played in four of their highest scoring games this season. Callahan said Tuesday that he thinks Rudolph earned another chance to play despite a 38-30 loss to Indianapolis. “Obviously the one interception was probably his only really poor moment," Callahan said. "The rest of it was pretty well executed on his part and operated in a drop-back passing game and had to fight his way back through it. And it was good to see, so we’ll let him take another crack at it.” Rudolph is 2-4 in the six games he's played in this season. That includes coming in for an injured Will Levis on Sept. 30 in a 31-12 win at Miami , and he tried to rally the Titans in a turnover-plagued 37-27 loss to Cincinnati before being selected as the starter last week. Rudolph, who is in Tennessee on a one-year deal, was 23 of 34 for 252 yards with two touchdown passes and three interceptions. One went off running back Tony Pollard's hands with the final pick coming on the last play of the game after Rudolph led a rally from a 38-7 deficit in the final 18 minutes. Rudolph's ability to avoid sacks is a key piece of sticking with him over Levis, the 33rd pick overall in the 2023 draft. The quarterbacks' stats are similar with Rudolph having eight TD passes and eight interceptions, completing 63.8% of his passes with a 78.8 passer rating. That’s similar to Levis completing 63.7% of his passes with 12 TD passes and 12 interceptions. But Levis has been sacked 40 times compared to just seven for Rudolph. “He’s got the ability to avoid the negative play when it comes to sacks," Callahan said of Rudolph. “He gets the ball out. He knows where to go with it quickly.” That means Rudolph gets a chance Sunday when the Titans (3-12) visit the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12) to see if he can guide the offense to more than the six points Levis managed against their AFC South rival in a 10-6 loss on Dec. 8 in Nashville. Rudolph said he knows he put the Titans defense in a bad spot with some turnovers. "I’m ready to prove that I can take care of the ball better and keep scoring points,” Rudolph said. The Titans held a walk-through Tuesday with Callahan giving the team Wednesday off for Christmas. An injury report won't be released until Wednesday, and Callahan said it'll likely be lengthy. RG Dillon Radunz, who was knocked out of last week's game with an injury, will be on that report. Lineman Jaelyn Duncan, who hurt a hamstring badly enough early in his first start at right tackle Oct. 20 that he wound up on injured reserve , will be available. Callahan said he is excited to see Duncan play. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflDaniel Jones done with Giants as team grants his request for release

Canada is already examining tariffs on certain US items following Trump’s tariff threat

Colorado's Deion Sanders warns players about smoking ahead of bowl gameThe large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the Hawk air defence system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds, officials said. The officials, who said they expect the announcement to be made on Monday, spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. The new aid comes as Russia launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities in recent days, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a significant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken by Ukraine. Earlier this month, senior defence officials acknowledged that the US Defence Department may not be able to send all of the remaining 5.6 billion dollars (£4.5 billion) in Pentagon weapons and equipment stocks passed by Congress for Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. Mr Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia, and spoken about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Many US and European leaders are concerned that it might result in a poor deal for Ukraine and they worry that he will not provide Ukraine with all the weapons funding approved by Congress. The aid in the new package is in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to take weapons off the shelves and send them quickly to Ukraine. This latest assistance would reduce the remaining amount to about 4.35 billion dollars (£3.46 billion). Officials have said they hope that an influx of aid will help strengthen Ukraine’s hand, should Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky decide it is time to negotiate. One senior defence official said that while the US will continue to provide weapons to Ukraine until January 20, there may well be funds remaining that will be available for the incoming Trump administration to spend. According to the Pentagon, there is also about 1.2 billion dollars (£0.9 billion) remaining in longer-term funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to pay for weapons contracts that would not be delivered for a year or more. Officials have said the administration anticipates releasing all of that money before the end of the calendar year. If the new package is included, the US will have provided more than 64 billion dollars (£50.8 billion) in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.

Lest we forgetShould the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers?Kolkata: A recently surfaced report of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), on the ghastly rape and murder of a woman junior doctor of state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata within the hospital premises, has suggested further research to be exactly sure whether the crime was accomplished by only one person or there were other accused too. As per the contents of the report, while the possibility of involvement of just one accused cannot be ruled out, further research, based on different past scientific reports by experts in similar cases, can lead to the final conclusion on whether more than one person was involved in the crime. Till now Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed just one charge sheet in the case where civic volunteer Sanjay Roy has been identified as the “sole prime accused” in the crime of rape and murder. In such a situation, the CSFL findings, suggesting further research in the matter, have raised fresh questions about whether any initiative for further research will be initiated or not. In the report, the CFSL has mentioned that the time frame between midnight on August 8 and 6 a.m. on August 9 was the time of the “rape & murder”. Already, one finding in the CSFL report has raised questions about the actual “scene of crime” in the case. On the morning of August 9 this year, the body of the victim was spotted at the seminar hall within the hospital premises. Accordingly, first, the Kolkata Police and subsequently, the CBI carried out the investigation, considering the seminar hall as the scene of crime. However, the report of the CFSL, which was submitted to the CBI, clearly stated that there was no evident sign of a scuffle within the seminar room. At the same time, the CFSL report has clearly stated that most of the wounds that were traced on the body of the victim were the result of her attempts to resist the rape.

Is Washington positioned for long-term success in the Big Ten? We aren't convinced, for a variety of reasons.How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers

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In conclusion, the joint action undertaken by the ten departments in Liaoning Province to strengthen computing power and empower intelligence is a testament to the province's commitment to embracing AI and digital technologies as key drivers of future growth and development. With a clear vision, strategic planning, and coordinated efforts, Liaoning is laying the groundwork for a more innovative, efficient, and prosperous future for all its residents.Money Research Collective’s editorial team solely created this content. Opinions are their own, but compensation and in-depth research determine where and how companies may appear. Many featured companies advertise with us. . Gold hit numerous all-time highs in 2024, and analysts are projecting another strong year for 2025.

SIPPING a glass of chilled fizz this Christmas morning, I will not only feel full of festive cheer, but also a little bit smug. That’s because this is the 17th time I’ve successfully managed to cut my mother-in-law, Rene, out of our celebrations. While other women will be run ragged, pandering and panicking, I’ll be blissfully relaxed at home, with my husband Brian, 52, our two sons, my parents and my sister Anneliese, 53. I’ll do nothing more strenuous than peel some vegetables, munch chocolate and unwrap presents, free of festive tension. This is the exact opposite of what the day would be like if Rene was on the scene. And it’s the reason why, during 18 years of marriage , my family has spent Christmas Day with her only once. READ MORE IN FABULOUS That was eight years ago and I am still suffering from a mild form of “seasonal PTSD ”. The barbed remarks started early in the day. “Do you often eat chocolate for breakfast?” she scoffed. The slurs didn’t end until we went to bed, when she commented: “That Christmas pudding wasn’t the best”. At the end of the day, close to tears, I swore I would never put myself through the ordeal again. Most read in Fabulous And now, at 51, I certainly won’t be swayed. I know I’m not alone, either. Mumsnet is filled with posts from women my age who are dreading having to deal with the mother-in-law this Christmas. Unsurprisingly, to me, a US study found that both men and women have more conflict with the mother-in-law than with their own mums. I don’t feel an ounce of guilt that my mother-in-law doesn’t get to see her grandchildren on the big day. She’ll see them at some point over the festive period, when we’ll go and stay for a couple of days. During that time, I’ll insist on taking long walks to get rid of those Christmas excesses — when in fact it’s to dodge seeing her. And she will spend Christmas itself with my husband’s brother, his lovely wife Chrissy and their daughters — so it isn’t as though she’ll be alone. I remember the very first Christmas in 1997 after Brian and I started dating . We didn’t spend it together because we had only been seeing each other for six months. But I was horrified when he rang me on Christmas Day to say Rene had prepared roast beef and not a traditional turkey . It’s the one time of year that I’m a stickler for convention and this seemed very wrong. Christmas is all about family and I wish I could see my grandsons I immediately knew that I didn’t want to spend a single Christmas with his family. They don’t really do presents either — most years, they would all give each other Lottery scratch cards — and while I’m not materialistic, I spend hours trawling the shops for the perfect gift for my loved ones. My mother-in-law has only ever bought me one present — a pot of anti-wrinkle cream. This year, I’m bracing myself for hair dye, because she recently asked why I have more grey hairs than Chrissy, her other daughter-in-law, despite being ten years younger. So you can understand why I feel a twinge of terror at the thought of spending Christmas with Rene at the helm. I’ve been with Brian, who works in marketing, for 26 years and festivities aside, my mother-in-law and I are yet to see eye-to-eye on anything. “Highlights” of her behaviour include asking if she could wear black to our wedding and then telling me she didn’t gain a daughter, but lost a son. She has a photo album titled My Family and while my husband and sons, who are 18 and 14, feature, I’m nowhere to be seen. She has even carefully selected wedding photos where I’m missing. For me, Christmas is a special time, not an occasion I want ruined. And Rene has a unique ability to make me feel the size of a gnat. On Christmas morning, we open stockings at my parents’ house in Dorset and have a lovely smoked salmon breakfast, and lots of chocolate, before slowly opening presents. Late afternoon, we’ll have turkey and all the trimmings — including my mother’s bread sauce, best in the world — at my sister’s house. This is followed by quizzes and party games. Brian is lovely about me wanting to be at my parents’. He gets on brilliantly with his in-laws. But eight years ago, Rene, who is a widow, was set to be alone at Christmas. Brian’s brother was away and even I acknowledged that we should go to her house, six hours from ours in London . I even prepared the meal, but the level of interference was off the scale, with petty remarks about timings and how rapidly the water was boiling for the Brussels. Her lips pursed at the taste of the chicken — “too dry” — and stayed that way up until she had eaten her last scrap of Christmas pudding with brandy butter. She made snide comments about what I’d gifted my boys, then aged ten and six. Their noisiness brought nothing but sighs. I felt like I couldn’t do anything right, most of my efforts were followed by a “Chrissy wouldn’t do it like that”. I told Brian never again. It doesn’t cause rows — he loves my family . Des­pite everything, my boys love Granny. She’s wonderful with them and I make sure they see plenty of her. But I worry about karma. I tried hard to do things in a way Mel would appreciate, but it’s never enough If the boys marry, they could assume their partners get to choose where to spend Christmas, as that’s their normal. I suspect it will be with their wives’ mums and it will serve me right. But in the meantime, I’ll enjoy my mother-in-law-free Christmas Day. And I wish all the luck in the world to the women who aren’t as lucky as I am. Rene, 81, says: “Christmas is all about family and I wish I could see my grandsons. The one Christmas I did spend with them was magical. “Mel doesn’t think I thought it was special, but it was. READ MORE SUN STORIES “I tried hard to do things in a way Mel would appreciate, but it’s never enough. “And the only reason I bought her anti-wrinkle cream is because I saw it in her bathroom, so thought she’d like it.”None

One of the key reasons behind the popularity of "The Story of Yanxi Palace" among Korean viewers is its captivating storyline. The intricate plot twists, political intrigues, and complex character relationships keep audiences on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating each new episode. The drama's seamless blend of history, romance, and suspense creates a compelling narrative that resonates with viewers of all ages.As the temperature drops, the familiar sensation of cold becomes an ever-present companion, seeping into every corner of our lives. From the moment we step outside, our breath forms frosty clouds in the frigid air, our cheeks flush with the bite of the cold, and our fingers and toes grow numb with the chill. It's a season where bundling up in layers of wool and down becomes not just a fashion statement but a necessity for survival.

The response to Lenovo's initiative has been overwhelmingly positive, with female gamers expressing gratitude for the company's dedication to catering to their unique needs and challenges. Many have reported significant improvements in their ability to press "W + Spacebar" smoothly and efficiently after engaging with the online tutorial. Some have even shared their success stories and newfound confidence in tackling gaming tasks that previously seemed daunting.• Fed rate cut, FOMC dot-plot, Powell comments will be in focus this week. • Micron offers significant upside potential backed by robust earnings growth and strong demand for its AI-related products. • Nike faces mounting challenges, with declining revenues, a cautious outlook, and soft consumer demand suggesting further downside for its stock price. • Looking for more actionable trade ideas? Subscribe here for 55% off InvestingPro as part of our Cyber Week Extended sale! U.S. stocks closed mostly lower on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average posting its longest run of losses since 2020, as investors priced in the possibility of the Federal Reserve cutting rates more slowly next year. For the week, the blue-chip Dow fell 1.8%, the S&P 500 dipped about 0.6%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite tacked on around 0.3% to secure its fourth consecutive week of gains. Source: Investing.com The blockbuster week ahead is expected to be a busy one filled with several market-moving events, including the Fed’s final monetary policy meeting of 2024. An official statement is due at 2:00PM ET on Wednesday. Fed chair Jerome Powell will speak at 2:30PM ET. With a 25-basis point rate cut assured, investors will focus on the central bank’s guidance on interest rates amid indications Powell could signal a pause in policy easing. Meanwhile, on the economic calendar, most important will be Tuesday’s U.S. retail sales report, which will shed further light on the health of the economy. The personal consumption expenditures price index reading for November, due Friday, will also be closely watched. Source: Investing.com Elsewhere, on the earnings docket, there are just a handful of corporate results due, including Nike (NYSE:NKE), FedEx (NYSE:FDX), Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU), Lennar (NYSE:LEN), General Mills (NYSE:GIS), and Carnival (NYSE:CCL) as Wall Street’s reporting season draws to a close. Regardless of which direction the market goes, below I highlight one stock likely to be in demand and another which could see fresh downside. Remember though, my timeframe is just for the week ahead, Monday, December 16 - Friday, December 20. Micron is poised for a solid week as the memory chip maker gears up to report its fiscal first-quarter results on Wednesday at 4:05PM ET. A call with president and chief executive officer Sanjay Mehrotra is set for 5:00PM ET. Market participants expect a sizable swing in MU stock after the update drops, according to the options market, with a possible implied move of +/-11.7% in either direction. Earnings have been catalysts for outsized swings in shares this year, with MU surging nearly 17% when the company last reported quarterly numbers in September. Wall Street anticipates strong earnings driven by robust demand for its High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM3E) chips, which are vital for AI and cloud computing applications. Adding to the bullish sentiment, 16 of the 24 analysts surveyed by InvestingPro have revised their earnings estimates upward over the past three months. Source: InvestingPro Micron is seen earning $1.77 a share, reversing a sharp year-ago loss of $0.95 per share, signaling a significant recovery after a challenging period in the memory market. Revenue is forecast to soar 83.9% annually to $8.70 billion, benefiting from sales of high-bandwidth memory devices to data centers running AI applications. The Boise, Idaho-based company plays a critical role in powering advancements in AI, cloud computing, and 5G connectivity with its innovative DRAM and NAND products. Looking ahead, I believe Micron’s management will provide solid guidance for the current quarter to reflect robust memory demand from cloud providers as growth prospects in artificial intelligence remain strong. Micron’s groundbreaking HBM3E technology, a key enabler for AI workloads, is expected to be a cornerstone of its growth strategy. MU stock ended Friday’s session at $102.50. At current levels, Micron has a market valuation of $113.7 billion. Shares, which reached an all-time high of $157.54 on June 18, are up 20.1% in the year-to-date. Source: Investing.com It should be noted that Micron stock remains undervalued according to the InvestingPro Fair Value model and could see an increase of 8.5% to $111.22. Be sure to check out InvestingPro to stay in sync with the market trend and what it means for your trading. Subscribe now and get 55% off and position your portfolio one step ahead of everyone else! In contrast, Nike, the global athletic apparel giant, faces significant headwinds this week as it prepares to report fiscal second-quarter results on Thursday at 4:15PM ET. Despite its strong brand recognition, the company is grappling with declining consumer demand for athletic wear and footwear, alongside supply chain challenges. According to the options market, traders are pricing in a swing of +/-7.7% in either direction for NKE stock following the print. Notably, shares gapped down after earnings in the past four quarters, and continued challenges suggest further downside. Analysts have slashed their profit estimates amid weakening operating margins and slowing growth in North America and China, two of Nike's largest markets. Source: InvestingPro Nike is expected to post a 37.8% drop in adjusted earnings per share to $0.64, with revenue projected to decline by 9.7% from the year-ago period to $12.1 billion. The sneaker giant has faced mounting challenges in recent quarters, struggling with weakening demand for athletic footwear and apparel amid a softening macroeconomic environment. The focus will be on newly reappointed CEO Elliott Hill's plans for a turnaround after the company pivoted to a direct-to-consumer model, which has struggled to offset declining wholesale revenues. NKE stock - which fell to a 2024 low of $70.75 on August 5 - closed at $77.25 on Friday. At its current valuation, the Beaverton, Oregon-based sportswear retailer has a market cap of $115 billion. Shares are down 28.8% in the year-to-date. Source: Investing.com It should be noted that Nike has a below average InvestingPro ‘Financial Health’ score of 2.4 out of 5.0 due to ongoing concerns over weakening gross profit margins and spotty sales growth. Whether you're a novice investor or a seasoned trader, leveraging InvestingPro can unlock a world of investment opportunities while minimizing risks amid the challenging market backdrop. Subscribe now to get 55% off all Pro plans with our Cyber Week Extended offer and instantly unlock access to several market-beating features, including: • ProPicks AI: AI-selected stock winners with proven track record. • InvestingPro Fair Value: Instantly find out if a stock is underpriced or overvalued. • Advanced Stock Screener: Search for the best stocks based on hundreds of selected filters, and criteria. • Top Ideas : See what stocks billionaire investors such as Warren Buffett, Michael Burry, and George Soros are buying. Disclosure: At the time of writing, I am long on the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq 100 via the SPDR® S&P 500 ETF (SPY), and the Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (QQQ). I am also long on the Invesco Top QQQ ETF (QBIG), Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP), and VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH). I regularly rebalance my portfolio of individual stocks and ETFs based on ongoing risk assessment of both the macroeconomic environment and companies' financials. The views discussed in this article are solely the opinion of the author and should not be taken as investment advice. Follow Jesse Cohen on X/Twitter @JesseCohenInv for more stock market analysis and insight. Related Articles 1 Stock to Buy, 1 Stock to Sell This Week: Micron, Nike S&P 500: Do Economic Indicators Support Bullish 2025 Outlooks? Are 2024’s Top Insider Buys a Good Bet for 2025?

The Sweden midfielder hailed Saturday’s 4-0 thrashing of the champions as the best game of his career. The 24-year-old delivered an outstanding performance as Spurs shattered the champions’ 52-game unbeaten home run, helping start the rout with a superb cross for James Maddison’s opening goal. Kulusevski said: “I believed (we would win) this because in the past years, we’ve come here and played really well. “So this is the game I look forward to most in the year and, once again, it happened – glory to God. “I’d say it’s the best result ever in my career. It’s a big night for the whole club, for the coach, for the players. “Because City have a lot of the ball sometimes, we can rest when we defend. There’s also so much space up there, we play one against one and then it’s always dangerous because we have a lot of quality. “It’s always great to play great teams because they always want to play football. When you play lower teams, sometimes it’s not. There’s not much football played because they are a lot of fouls, a lot of injuries and it’s slow going.” Maddison stole the show with two goals in quick succession in the first half while Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson later got on the scoresheet. Yet Kulusevski’s performance was also eye-catching and the player himself believes there is plenty more to come from him. Asked if his form made him feel “unstoppable”, Kulusevski said: “I feel like that. I feel very good and I’m trying to keep this way. I’m very happy, I’m trying to improve. “I started the season good but there is over half of the season left and I hope I can do much better. “I think I have something that no other player has. With my engine, with my heart – I don’t get tired – I feel like I can do a lot still in my career.” Tottenham’s scintillating performance marked a spectacular return to form after their dismal loss to Ipswich in their previous Premier League outing. Kulusevski said: “We have to be much more consistent. It’s not a turning point. We just have to be better in other games. “This game suited us perfectly but we have a lot of improvement to make in the other games.”

In the long list of tasks we'd like humanoid robots to perform for us, shooting hoops is probably close to the bottom – if it makes the list at all. But the recently set its second Guinness World Record, for the farthest basketball shot by a humanoid robot. "This robot just sunk a seemingly impossible basketball shot – and made it look easy," begins the press release from Guinness World Records. It details the record-breaking exploits of an AI-powered humanoid and its human development team. For the past few years, project engineers have been honing the skillset and boosting the capabilities of a basketball-playing robot named CUE. An earlier version already secured a world record in 2019 for the most consecutive hoops. Now the sixth-generation humanoid has nailed the longest shot – launching the ball from 24.55 meters (80.5 ft) away and seeing it arc over the court in Nagakute, Japan, before making the basket. A few Toyota engineers began working on a crazy idea in April 2017. Even though none of nine members of the Toyota Engineering Society had previous experience in robot development or AI technologies, they embarked on an epic journey to build a robot "that could demonstrate machine learning through human-like intelligence." When a team member quoted a protagonist from popular comic – who said "Will 20,000 practice shots be enough?" – it lit the spark for a project to create a humanoid that employed artificial intelligence to gauge the distance of a free throw on a basketball court and could then successfully sink multiple successive shots. Thus the CUE project was born. Following much trial and error, the first prototype made its public debut at a Toyota Engineering Society event in 2018, managing to impress attendees by nailing nine out of 10 hoops. The CUE bot then engaged in a shootout with professional (human) players from the Alvark Tokyo team, which is sponsored by Toyota. Its hoop-sinking prowess attracted the attention of company executives, and the project was moved to full-time development and funded for two years. The second-generation CUE-bot – sporting "pineapple-like resinous skin" fashioned by folks at the Hirose Plant nearby – was ready for its time in the limelight just six months later. Unlike the original, this new version could stand without support and boasted more motor power for longer shots from outside the three-point line. The CUE team continued to make rapid progress, and the third-gen basketball bot was revealed in April 2019. Improvements included the ability to receive a ball in its left hand, as well as excuting shots from anywhere between the three-point and center lines. It was this humanoid player that attracted the attention of the good people at Guiness World Records. After some reprogramming and mechanical tweaks, and under the watchful eye of Guinness officials, CUE3 began its marathon effort to set the record for the "most consecutive basketball free throws by a humanoid robot (assisted)." Six hours and 35 minutes later, and the record for future roboticists to beat was set at 2,020 basketballs consecutively thrown through the hoop – "and it only stopped because the engineers present decided to end the attempt," reports Guinness World Records. The project team returned to the court of team Alvark Tokyo in November of 2019 for the unveiling of the next-gen CUE-bot, which could now grasp and shoot a ball on its own, and also make an autonomous run for it courtesy of some futuristic skates. Interestingly, a by the team the following month announcing the official transfer of CUE4 to Alvark Tokyo – albeit on a temporary basis – along with its position as shooting guard and vest number 94. The humanoid player was subsequently selected for an All-Star Game in early 2020, where it got the opportunity to participate in the , and notched up 11 points. Shooting hoops is all well and good, but what about dribbling. That skill was gained with the introduction on CUE5 in the middle of 2021. "Though it may not be something you notice while watching a basketball game, each bounce of the ball actually differs slightly due to the ball’s air pressure and court conditions," said the team's Takayoshi Tsujimoto. "A human can unconsciously adjust to the situation, but robots lack that capability. Therefore, we programmed CUE to learn how to accurately read the ball’s position for each bounce and decide how to move his hand, giving him the flexibility to handle any venue. Although he currently uses his left hand, theoretically he could dribble just as well with the right." This International Olympic Committee requested that this iteration take part in the 2020 Games in Tokyo, where it "showcased its skills" at pre-game and half-time slots. And that pretty much brings us to the current generation, which introduced on December 24, 2022 and set the Guinness World Record in September of this year. "We aimed to surprise the world by shooting from far away," said project leader, Tomohiro Nomi. "And so, we took on this challenge to shoot from this distance. Using artificial intelligence based on robot structure, it learned and thought of the throwing style that would be the most effective. As a result, I think it led to the current throwing form." Impressive though this achievement is, the CUE team still has a long way to go before its AI humanoid bests the current human record for the longest basketball shot – which was secured by in July 2022, and stands at 34.6 meters (113.5 ft). Sources: ,

The tangled web that links big unions and Labor to the $3.9 trillion super sectorBurnout Boys And Girls Of The NGO SectorBut it was when Li Yunrui decided to remove his jacket that the audience truly saw his full potential. As the fabric fell away, revealing his chiseled abs and strong arms, there was a collective gasp of awe from the crowd. Li Yunrui's toned body was a work of art, a testament to the hours of hard work he put into maintaining his physique.

The latest development came hours after thousands of his supporters, defying government warnings, broke through a barrier of shipping containers blocking off Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, where they clashed with security forces, facing tear gas shelling, mass detentions and gunfire. Tension has been high in Islamabad since Sunday when supporters of the former PM began a “long march” from the restive north-west to demand his release. Khan has been in a prison for more than a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases that his party says are politically motivated. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, led the protest, but she fled as police pushed back against demonstrators. Hundreds of Khan’s supporters are being arrested in the ongoing night-time operation. Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that the Red Zone, which houses government buildings and embassies, and the surrounding areas have been cleared. Leaders from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, have also fled the protest site. Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan’s army took control of D-Chowk, a large square in the Red Zone, where visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is staying. Since Monday, Mr Naqvi had threatened that security forces would use live fire if protesters fired weapons at them. “We have now authorised the police to respond as necessary,” Mr Naqvi said Tuesday while visiting the square. Before the operation began, protester Shahzor Ali said people had taken to the streets because Khan had called for them. “We will stay here until Khan joins us. He will decide what to do next,” Mr Ali said. Protester Fareeda Bibi, who is not related to Khan’s wife, said people have suffered greatly for the last two years. “We have really suffered for the last two years, whether it is economically, politically or socially. We have been ruined. I have not seen such a Pakistan in my life,” she said. Authorities have struggled to contain the protest-related violence. Six people, including four members of the security services, were killed when a vehicle rammed them on a street overnight into Tuesday. A police officer died in a separate incident. Dozens of Khan supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for the Associated Press and took his camera. He sustained head injuries and was treated in hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, fresh waves of protesters made their way unopposed to their final destination in the Red Zone. Mr Naqvi said Khan’s party had rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city. Information minister Atta Tarar warned there would be a severe government reaction to the violence. The government says only the courts can order Khan’s release. He was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. In a bid to foil the unrest, police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country. Messaging platforms were also experiencing severe disruption in the capital. Khan’s party relies heavily on social media and uses messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, which is banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible, even with a VPN. Last Thursday, a court prohibited rallies in the capital and Mr Naqvi said anyone violating the ban would be arrested. Travel between Islamabad and other cities has become nearly impossible because of shipping containers blocking the roads. All education institutions remain closed.Furthermore, the tournament will be broadcasted live to millions of viewers around the world, ensuring that table tennis enthusiasts from all corners of the globe can follow the action and show their support for their favorite players. The WTT Singapore Grand Slam serves as a platform to promote the sport of table tennis and inspire the next generation of athletes to pursue their passion for the game.

Coach Zhang, known for his strategic approach to the game, highlighted the significance of Liu Chuanxing's role in setting the tone for the team's defensive effort. "Liu has the potential to be a defensive anchor for our team," Coach Zhang stated. "His size, athleticism, and determination make him a valuable asset in securing rebounds and protecting the paint."Through his words and actions, Jackson Yee inspires us all to reflect on our own roles and responsibilities in shaping a better future, both on and off the screen.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio – As construction on two Intel microchip plants continues east of Columbus, questions swirl around the storied company’s faltering business plan and whether its Ohio project is at risk. The most recent eyebrow-raising development was the Dec. 1 retirement of Intel CEO, Pat Gelsinger, who had been the driving force behind the strategy to grow the company’s manufacturing capacity by adding fabrication lines in the United States and Europe. As part of Gelsinger’s strategy, Intel announced in early 2022 that it would invest at least $20 billion in the Ohio plants, which have already been delayed and are not expected to be operational until at least 2027. The company also is building plants in Arizona and expanding operations in New Mexico and Oregon, although it said earlier this year that it was pausing a related project in Germany. But if fabrication expansion is still the plan, one must wonder why the company got rid of Gelsinger, who was “effectively fired,” said Stacy Rasgon, a senior stock analyst with Bernstein Research who tracks the semiconductor industry. Rasgon elaborated on that uncertainty in a report to clients shortly after Gelsinger’s departure was announced. “The choice for any new CEO would seem to center on what to do with the fabs,” Rasgon wrote. “But while keeping them feels like deadweight (and a continuation of the strategy that got Pat out), scrapping them would also be fraught with difficulties around the product roadmap, outsourcing strategy, CHIPS act and political navigation etc. There don’t seem to be any easy answers here, so whoever winds up filling the slot looks in for a tough ride.” As for the Ohio plants, “I think their future is in limbo,” Rasgon said. Other Intel watchers also aren’t sure what to think about the company’s future plans. Asked if it makes business sense for Intel to be in the foundry business – making chips for others – Ross Seymore, a semiconductor analyst with Deutsche Bank, said, “That’s a great question. That’s the $64,000 question.” As of today, Intel’s commitment to Ohio remains unchanged, he said, but whether that holds true will be up to the new CEO. The semiconductor industry would like to have more competition at the leading edge of manufacturing, Seymore said. At the same time, the federal government would like that increased capacity to be constructed in the United States for security reasons. Intel is one of the few companies, along with Taiwan-based TSMC and South Korea-based Samsung, that can satisfy both of those desires, he said. Like Intel, TSMC and Samsung are also in line for CHIPS Act money to expand in the United States. In recent years, Intel has been losing ground to its competitors, as evidenced by a 60% drop in its stock price during Gelsinger’s tenure, which began in early 2021. The company has suffered through a series of poor leaders, Rasgon said, as well as missing crucial market shifts over the years, including the move to mobile devices and more recently to AI. As for the latest iteration of Intel’s processing technology, which would be counted on to drive business to its fabs, it has yet to generate much demand. Earlier this year, the company talked about expecting $40 billion in foundry revenues by 2030 of which $15 billion would be from fabricating other companies’ chips, Rasgon said, adding sarcastically, “Good luck with that.” Federal support Intel does have federal support for its expansion plans, although it’s not that much money relative to the massive costs associated with building new chip plants, Rasgon said. Just before Thanksgiving, the Biden administration finalized its CHIPS Act grant of $7.8 billion to Intel, including $1.5 billion f or the Ohio project. The federal government also has awarded Intel a $3 billion contract to make chips for defense purposes. The grant money does not seem to be in doubt, despite President-elect Donald Trump’s stated displeasure with the CHIPS Act, as it would be hard to claw back the money, said Ned Hill, professor emeritus of economic development at Ohio State and Cleveland State universities. Congress has already appropriated the money and the contracts have been signed and the money committed, he said. But there are numerous conditions Intel must meet along the way to continue receiving the funds from the government. The release of the CHIPS Act money is one reason that the administration of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is optimistic the plants will move along as planned. “Billions of dollars have been invested at the Ohio One site in Licking County, including multiple loads of equipment coming north from the Ohio River to the site,” read a joint statement from DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted after Gelsinger departed. “Now that the CHIPS Act funding has been announced, we anticipate the project will continue to move ahead quickly.” Progress so far bodes well for their future, said Dan Tierney, spokesman DeWine, whose administration has pledged $2 billion in various incentives to assist Intel. “In discussion with Intel, they continue to talk about moving forward with the project,” Tierney said. A call to an Intel spokesman was not returned. A lot of speculation Hill, the OSU professor, is not sure anybody beyond the company really knows how Intel’s planned expansion in Licking County will play out. “The honest answer is that anything you hear is going to have a high degree of speculation because it’s pretty clear that the board doesn’t know what it wants to do,” he said. He said it’s uncertain whether Intel wants to both design and produce its own chips, and operate a foundry business to make chips for others. “And it seems to be one of the reasons (Gelsinger) was let go,” he said, “because it ate so much cash.”. Hill does expect, in one form or another, that the two plants under construction in Ohio will be built. He said one of the attractions of the Ohio site is its proximity to customers such as Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, where a lot of defense related work goes on, and the U.S. auto industry’s research and development facilities in southeastern Michigan and Marysville, Ohio. But the strongest argument in favor of the plants, he said, is that they are partially completed and most of the equipment has been ordered “and they’re on the hook for it.” If Intel wanted out, a competitor could buy what’s already there at a discount and give it a cheap entre into the market. Plus, if Intel stays in the business, odds are the Ohio plants will be among those to survive because they would be more modern, he said. Adding to the speculation is the possibility that Intel could spin off its foundry business into a wholly owned subsidiary or a closely related, but separate company, which would have its own board of directors. “At the highest of levels, that is the largest decision,” Seymore said.Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar voiced apprehensions about the increasing commercialisation of the education sector during a student address at Jiwaji University, Gwalior, on Sunday. Dhankhar emphasized the importance of maintaining education as a service-oriented field to foster democracy and equality globally. He urged businesses to allocate corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds towards educational investment, highlighting this as crucial for transforming economic growth from incremental to vertical. Dhankhar also stressed the significance of adapting to new age technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. Recounting his ties with the Scindia dynasty, Dhankhar recognized the contributions of Jiwajirao Scindia to education and invited university students to observe Parliament in action. In addition, he inaugurated the GSI Geoscience Museum, offering insights into Earth's mysteries, and visited the Jai Vilas Palace. (With inputs from agencies.)

As the community mourns the loss of those who have succumbed to the illness, there is a collective call for unity and strength in the face of this crisis. The resilience and determination of the people of Yawang Valley are being put to the test, but there is a steely resolve to overcome this adversity and emerge stronger on the other side.

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live casino online Billionaire Elon Musk, tapped by US President-elect Donald Trump to slash federal government spending, lashed out at modern fighter jets on Monday, saying that drones were the future of air combat. "Manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway. Will just get pilots killed," said the head of SpaceX, Tesla and X, in a post on his social media platform. Musk singled out the F-35 -- a next-generation fighter jet manufactured by US-based Lockheed Martin that entered service in 2015 -- for criticism. "Meanwhile, some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35," he posted, alongside a video of hundreds of drones hovering in formation in the sky. The F-35, the world's most advanced fighter, is stealth capable and can also be used to gather intelligence. Germany , Poland, Finland and Romania have all recently signed deals for the aircraft. Its development, however, has suffered from issues, notably in the design of its computer programs, and its very high operating costs are regularly criticized by its detractors. "The F-35 design was broken at the requirements level, because it was required to be too many things to too many people," said Musk on Monday, calling it "an expensive (and) complex jack of all trades, master of none." For Mauro Gilli, a researcher at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, "what makes the F-35... expensive is the software and the electronics, not the pilot per se." This is significant "because a reusable drone would need to get all that flashy electronics of an F-35," he said on X. He also pointed out that the existence of the F-35 had forced US rivals to develop their own aircraft and advanced radar to match it. "By simply existing, the F-35 and the B-1 force Russia and China into strategic choices they would not have to make otherwise (i.e. budget allocations)," Gilli said, referring to B-1 heavy bomber aircraft. "Even if Musk were right (and he is not), deleting the programs would relax these constraints on them." © Agence France-PresseAmazon is selling a $99 smart dog camera for just $45, and it's a must-have Black Friday deal for pet owners

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Strategy devised for civil disobedience, says Hamid RazaThe Evolution of Quality Management Systems: A Modern Entrepreneur’s GuideSEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to implement the “toughest” anti-U.S. policy, state media reported Sunday, less than a month before Donald Trump takes office as U.S. president. Trump’s return to the White House raises prospects for high-profile diplomacy with North Korea. During his first term, Trump met Kim three times for talks on the North’s nuclear program. Many experts however say a quick resumption of Kim-Trump summitry is unlikely as Trump would first focus on conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. North Korea’s support for Russia’s war against Ukraine also poses a challenge to efforts to revive diplomacy, experts say. During a five-day plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party that ended Friday, Kim called the U.S. “the most reactionary state that regards anti-communism as its invariable state policy.” Kim said that the U.S.-South Korea-Japan security partnership is expanding into “a nuclear military bloc for aggression.” “This reality clearly shows to which direction we should advance and what we should do and how,” Kim said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. It said Kim’s speech “clarified the strategy for the toughest anti-U.S. counteraction to be launched aggressively” by North Korea for its long-term national interests and security. KCNA didn’t elaborate on the anti-U.S. strategy. But it said Kim set forth tasks to bolster military capability through defense technology advancements and stressed the need to improve the mental toughness of North Korean soldiers. The previous meetings between Trump and Kim had not only put an end to their exchanges of fiery rhetoric and threats of destruction, but they developed personal connections. Trump once famously said he and Kim “fell in love.” But their talks eventually collapsed in 2019, as they wrangled over U.S.-led sanctions on the North. North Korea has since sharply increased the pace of its weapons testing activities to build more reliable nuclear missiles targeting the U.S. and its allies. The U.S. and South Korea have responded by expanding their military bilateral drills and also trilateral ones involving Japan, drawing strong rebukes from the North, which views such U.S.-led exercises as invasion rehearsals. Further complicating efforts to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons in return for economic and political benefits is its deepening military cooperation with Russia. According to U.S., Ukrainian and South Korean assessments, North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops and conventional weapons systems to support Moscow’s war against Ukraine. There are concerns that Russia could give North Korea advanced weapons technology in return, including help to build more powerful nuclear missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in Russia’s Kursk region. It was the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties since the North Korean troop deployment to Russia began in October. Russia and China, locked in separate disputes with the U.S., have repeatedly blocked U.S.-led pushes to levy more U.N. sanctions on North Korea despite its repeated missile tests in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. Last month, Kim said that his past negotiations with the United States only confirmed Washington’s “unchangeable” hostility toward his country and described his nuclear buildup as the only way to counter external threats.

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online live casino CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Front Row Motorsports, one of two teams suing NASCAR in federal court, accused the stock car series Thursday of rejecting the planned purchase of a valuable charter unless the lawsuit was dropped. Front Row made the claim in a court filing and said it involved its proposed purchase of the charter from Stewart-Haas Racing. Front Row said the series would only approve it if Front Row and 23XI Racing dropped their court case. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

NoneA former model who attended parties hosted by Sean 'Diddy' Combs has admitted "all of the emotions that I felt in the past just came flooding back" after he was denied bail for a third time . The 55-year-old rapper is currently being held at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center as he awaits federal trial. Combs was arrested in September on charges including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has vehemently denied all allegations against him and pleaded not guilty in court. The Bad Boy Records founder was denied bail again earlier this week. Following the decision, Precious Muir said she "cried tears of joy." P Diddy demands 'young, fresh faces' as he screams and swears in resurfaced video Khloe Kardashian begs pal to be quiet as she brags about 'butt naked' Diddy party in resurfaced clip Speaking exclusively to The Mirror US, she said, "I cried tears of joy, all of the emotions that I felt in past just came flooding back, finally our voices are being heard. So thankful for this outcome, it’s like a sense of relief. It would have made me feel extremely uneasy to know that he wasn’t behind bars." The former Playboy Bunny suggested Combs' alleged victims may have been "fearful in speaking out against him" if he had been granted bail. She continued, "Take his name anyway for a moment and just describe his alleged crimes over decades and what he has currently been accused of doing whilst in prison, no other Perpetrator would get bail. He doesn't deserve special treatment." Diddy had been accused of witness tampering by prosecutors. US Attorney Damian Williams and his legal team wrote a letter following the rapper's latest bail request, which was obtained by The Mirror US. It said, "The bail package presented by the defendant does not come close to ensuring the safety of the community, including from the defendant's ongoing efforts to obstruct this case, nor does it adequately protect from risk of flight. For all of these reasons, the defendant’s renewed application for bail must be denied." The prosecution claimed in the letter Diddy's "obstructive acts" have shown a "persistent, brazen effort to improperly interfere with this criminal case." They then gave examples of the rapper's alleged obstruction, including using "multiple unauthorized means of communications" while in jail. "Even after defense counsel represented that the defendant had stopped using ContactMeASAP, he has continued to use the ContactMeASAP account of at least one other inmate, sending messages to a family member as recently as November 24, 2024," Williams wrote. The US Attorney also alleged that while at the MDC , Combs has "instructed family members and third parties to contact multiple potential victims and witnesses." The letter accused Diddy of giving these instructions via "unauthorized means of communication" and by using "coded language." Judge Arun Subramanian said in his decision to deny bail, "The Court finds that the government has shown by clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community." Precious said she has "found some hope again in the American Justice System," following the decision. Diddy's defense team issued a letter to Judge Subramanian prior to the decision as they argued the "nonstop drumbeat of negative publicity has destroyed his reputation and will make it virtually impossible for him to receive a fair trial." Their letter continued, "Mr. Combs is not required to sit idly by and acquiesce to all of this. He has a right to a fair trial and a constitutional right to speak out on his own behalf. The government’s arguments that asking his children to post birthday wishes on Instagram and that he is not entitled to publicly express his opinion that this prosecution is racially motivated are, quite simply, an unconstitutional effort to silence him." In a statement shared with The Mirror US, Combs attorneys added, "He has unwavering faith in the facts and in the fairness of the judicial process. In court, the truth will come to light, demonstrating that the claims against Mr. Combs are without merit." The Mirror US has approached Combs' attorneys for further comment. Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sport and entertainment stories. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.

Chance of direct attack by Russia ‘remote’, says UK armed forces chiefPaige Spiranac Shares Jaw-Dropping Swimsuit Photo In Snowstorm

Advisors Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Preferred Bank ( NASDAQ:PFBC – Free Report ) by 194.1% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,906 shares of the bank’s stock after buying an additional 1,258 shares during the quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Preferred Bank were worth $153,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Preferred Bank by 1.3% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 868,073 shares of the bank’s stock worth $66,642,000 after acquiring an additional 10,931 shares during the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new stake in Preferred Bank in the 3rd quarter valued at about $294,000. Quest Partners LLC boosted its stake in Preferred Bank by 1,376.8% during the 3rd quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 8,137 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $653,000 after purchasing an additional 7,586 shares during the period. CWM LLC boosted its stake in Preferred Bank by 140.0% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,503 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $201,000 after purchasing an additional 1,460 shares during the period. Finally, GSA Capital Partners LLP grew its position in Preferred Bank by 62.5% in the 3rd quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP now owns 31,726 shares of the bank’s stock worth $2,546,000 after purchasing an additional 12,197 shares during the last quarter. 72.77% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Stephens lifted their price target on Preferred Bank from $90.00 to $94.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Preferred Bank Trading Down 1.4 % NASDAQ:PFBC opened at $94.33 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $1.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.45 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a current ratio of 1.08. Preferred Bank has a 1 year low of $61.24 and a 1 year high of $99.78. The business has a fifty day moving average of $86.51 and a 200-day moving average of $81.09. Preferred Bank ( NASDAQ:PFBC – Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 21st. The bank reported $2.46 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.39 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $132.88 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $68.80 million. Preferred Bank had a net margin of 26.20% and a return on equity of 19.01%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.71 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Preferred Bank will post 9.75 earnings per share for the current year. Preferred Bank Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 21st. Stockholders of record on Monday, October 7th were issued a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, October 7th. Preferred Bank’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 28.06%. Preferred Bank Profile ( Free Report ) Preferred Bank provides various commercial banking products and services to small and mid-sized businesses and their owners, entrepreneurs, real estate developers and investors, professionals, and high net worth individuals. The company accepts checking, savings, and money market deposit accounts; fixed-rate and fixed maturity retail, and non-retail certificates of deposit; and individual retirement accounts. Read More Five stocks we like better than Preferred Bank 3 Healthcare Dividend Stocks to Buy The Latest 13F Filings Are In: See Where Big Money Is Flowing 3 Warren Buffett Stocks to Buy Now 3 Penny Stocks Ready to Break Out in 2025 Energy and Oil Stocks Explained FMC, Mosaic, Nutrien: Top Agricultural Stocks With Big Potential Receive News & Ratings for Preferred Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Preferred Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

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A FOOTBALL WAG has hailed an "expensive looking" Christmas partywear haul after splashing out £170 in the high street store. Ellie Butler is the childhood sweetheart of ex-Celtic midfielder Liam Shaw. She regularly shares her shopping hauls and outfit tips with her army of followers on social media. Unsurprisingly, her dressing room is packed with designer handbags, jewellery and footwear. But the down-to-earth WAG still loves to hit the high street and her local supermarket for fashion buys too. In a recent video , the newly engaged blonde beauty bagged some festive partywear must-haves in H&M. She gushed: "I am so excited for this. If I was attending Christmas parties these are some of the pieces that I would style and create an outfit from. "I've gone for quite a mixture in this selection. We've got some cooler, more casual Christmas party outfits, some extreme ‘hello it’s Christmas’ outfits and also a little Christmas jumper thrown in there." First up, the size 10 WAG picked up a long-sleeved jersey top covered in sparkly diamante embellishments. And the top, which comes in sizes XXS to XL, is a bargain at just £12.99. Ellie said: "This is a nice in between. I feel like this is perfect if you're not wanting full sequins, you're not wanting to buy an outfit that you can only wear at Christmas. You can use this all year round. "This is a really nice, gorgeous quality. It's so thick and soft, a long-sleeved black T-shirt with these little diamonds all the way around. "It’s nice and sculpting. I'm still a little bit sparkly and I can wear this all year round. I love it. I feel like it's really flattering as well. "I don't feel like this was expensive at all and it looks really expensive. I just love the style of it." Next, Ellie paired £19.99 sequin mini shorts, available in XS to XXL, with a £37.99 black tie-belt blazer. She gushed: "These shorts are the perfect length for a really short short. They cover my bum but just cut off at the perfect length. I think they look so expensive." And the blonde beauty was just as impressed by the blazer, as the she added: "I can still have the oversized look but with a cinched in waist too." Determined to bag a more understated Christmas jumper, the 5ft 7in fashionista managed to find an adorable £24.99 bow detailed cream jumper, which is also available in dusty pink. She said: "If you want a Christmas jumper but you don't want it covered in Santa or reindeers or gingerbread men, I feel like this is a great alternative. "You've got a little bow which is still trending at the moment. It's a really nice soft jumper. "I just think it looks really expensive but it's perfect for this time of year. It's giving Christmas without screaming ‘hello it's Christmas’. "It's just nice and subtle but I think it's really pretty and girly and cute." Ellie also hailed a £37.99 rhinestone-embellished vest top as "the most stunning vest that she's ever seen". But her final purchase didn't prove quite as successful as she was left disappointed by a brown and gold £37.99 sequined A-line dress. She sighed: "I feel like if we had something like even a shoelace to tie around the waist of this and give it a little bit more structure, a little bit more shape, I feel that would be really flattering. "It's actually really comfortable it's got really nice lining inside so it's not itchy at all I feel like the shape's quite unflattering "I feel like cinched in and a little bit shorter makes all of the difference." Ellie's footballer beau Liam Shaw only played TWICE for Celtic in three years - and never tasted defeat. His last game in the Hoops was a sub appearance against St Mirren in the league back in December 2021, but he started in the 3-2 Europa League win against Real Betis earlier that same month. However it didn't spell a run and he was loaned out to Motherwell for the second half of his first season in Scotland and then spells with Morecambe and Wigan followed before his release this summer - one year early. But he managed to find a new club five weeks after the transfer window closed - and he'll work with a former RANGERS player no less. Shaw has signed for Charlie Adam at Fleetwood Town on a deal until the end of the season.

Addresses the Speed and Reach Limitations of Passive, Direct-attached Copper (DAC) Cables SANTA CLARA, Calif. , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Marvell Technology, Inc . (NASDAQ: MRVL), a leader in data infrastructure semiconductor solutions, today announced the general availability of a 200G per lane optimized transimpedance amplifier (TIA) and laser driver chipset, enabling 800 Gbps and 1.6 Tbps linear-drive pluggable optics (LPO). Designed to address next-generation short-reach, scale-up compute fabric connectivity requirements, LPO modules enabled by the chipset overcome the reach limitations of passive, DAC cable interconnects. The LPO chipset expands the industry-leading interconnect portfolio from Marvell, which includes PAM4 optical DSPs , coherent DSPs , data center interconnects, Alaska® A active electrical cable (AEC) DSPs and Alaska P PCIe retimers , delivering an optimized optical solution for short-reach compute fabric connections, delivering an optimized optical solution for short-reach compute fabric connections. As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies advance, the demand for higher-bandwidth interconnects in data center networks is accelerating rapidly. This is particularly evident in compute fabric networks, which connect XPUs within and across racks. The next generation of XPU compute fabric networks will transition to data rates of 200 Gbps per lane, where passive DACs fall short of meeting speed and distance requirements. To address this, cloud data centers will transition to a new type of interconnect that meets their specific requirements. Marvell introduced Alaska A for customers looking to extend copper capabilities using AECs, while others can leverage specialized LPO modules featuring the Marvell TIA and driver chipset. Designed for short and predictable host channels, these LPO modules enable longer reach, higher bandwidth and improved performance compared to copper interconnects. "Marvell 1.6 Tbps LPO TIA and laser driver chipset is designed to address the growing demand for short-reach, high-bandwidth interconnect solutions, where passive copper cables are hitting a wall," said Xi Wang , vice president of product marketing for Optical Connectivity at Marvell. "As AI-driven data centers continue to scale, optimizing interconnect solutions across each layer of the network is becoming increasingly critical. The new LPO chipset complements and expands our industry-leading 1.6 Tbps connectivity portfolio, to address the growing spectrum of interconnects that cloud operators are seeking to optimize." "LPO has been a technology in search of the right solution. By optimizing chipsets for short, inside-the-rack connections, Marvell brings clarity and focus to LPO, delivering it in a more compelling and scalable manner," said Alan Weckel , co-founder of 650 Group. "Marvell's innovative approach to achieving performance gains helps drive better AI cluster TCO and highlights the industry's direction in optimizing networking links." The 1.6 Tbps LPO chipset, one of the latest additions to the Marvell interconnect portfolio, is optimized for specific use cases to help data centers maximize infrastructure utilization and performance while reducing overall cost and power per bit. This extensive portfolio spanning optical and copper interconnects includes Ara , the industry's first 3nm PAM4 interconnect platform; Aquila , the industry's first O-band-optimized coherent-lite DSP platform; Nova family of PAM4 DSPs featuring 200 Gbps electrical and optical interfaces; and Alaska A PAM4 DSP for active electrical cables. LPO Chipset Key Features About Marvell To deliver the data infrastructure technology that connects the world, we're building solutions on the most powerful foundation: our partnerships with our customers. Trusted by the world's leading technology companies for over 25 years, we move, store, process and secure the world's data with semiconductor solutions designed for our customers' current needs and future ambitions. Through a process of deep collaboration and transparency, we're ultimately changing the way tomorrow's enterprise, cloud, automotive, and carrier architectures transform—for the better. Marvell and the M logo are trademarks of Marvell or its affiliates. Please visit www.marvell.com for a complete list of Marvell trademarks. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future events, results or achievements. Actual events, results or achievements may differ materially from those contemplated in this press release. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including those described in the "Risk Factors" section of our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed by us from time to time with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and no person assumes any obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information, contact: Kim Markle pr@marvell.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/marvell-introduces-1-6-tbps-lpo-chipset-to-enable-optical-short-reach-scale-up-compute-fabric-interconnects-302328139.html SOURCE MarvellNone

DORTMUND, Germany : Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck became the latest player to join the club's growing injury list after he turned his ankle in their 3-2 Champions League loss to Barcelona on Wednesday. Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin, who on Tuesday announced that defender Niklas Suele would be out for several months and is also missing defender Waldemar Anton, said Schlotterbeck's potential absence would be a major blow to the team. The Germany international was injured in the final move of the game after having headed the ball over the Barcelona goal. As he landed, he badly turned his ankle and had to be treated on the pitch after the final whistle before being taken off on a stretcher. "It would be a complete disaster if he was also sidelined," Sahin said. "I don't have a diagnosis yet but obviously he is completely dejected." "I saw the images and they are horrible. We will have a sleepless night tonight and then we will have to see how it develops tomorrow," said the coach. Dortmund, in sixth place in the Bundesliga, have been struggling with injuries for months and at some stage were missing as many as 10 players. The defeat against Barcelona saw Dortmund, last year's finalists, drop to ninth place on 12 points with two matches remaining, with the top eight earning automatic qualification for the round of 16. "I am fuming because we played well," Sahin said. "We have to win these games. We deserved more in the second half." "I do not want to hear that we played a good game. There is no room for mistakes and we have to learn that. We keep up with these top teams but in the end I want to sit here and say 'we won the game'. That is the development we need."WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump offered a public show of support Friday for Pete Hegseth, his choice to lead the Defense Department, whose confirmation by the Senate is in doubt as he faces questions over allegations of excessive drinking, sexual assault and his views on women in combat roles. Hegseth, a former Fox News host, Army National Guard major and combat veteran, spent much of the week on Capitol Hill trying to salvage his Cabinet nomination and privately reassure Republican senators that he is fit to lead Trump's Pentagon. "Pete Hegseth is doing very well," Trump posted on his social media site. "He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense." The president added that "Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!" The nomination battle is emerging not only as a debate about the best person to lead the Pentagon, but an inflection point for a MAGA movement that appears to be relishing a public fight over its hard-line push for a more masculine military and an end to the "woke-ism" of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. People are also reading... Statesville native Tomlin leads Delaware State to MEAC volleyball title, NCAA berth Top vote-getter Houpe: Why am I not chairman of Iredell board of commissioners? Trump, Musk can learn from North Carolina, Raleigh writer says 4 pounds of marijuana, gun seized by Mooresville police officers Letter to the editor: Charging kids to play baseball at Jennings Park is poor idea Iredell-Statesville Schools closed Tuesday due to snow, ice Tiny, 4 more dogs seeking homes at Iredell County Animal Services Iredell County deputies charge 7 people in drug trafficking investigation New school chairman rules 2 fellow board members out of order in Iredell North Dakota man brings shed-building expertise to Troutman 3 Eagle Scouts and 1 grateful Iredell County resident Get to know Mooresville basketball player Cadence Lane Mooresville’s bid to topple No. 3 seed East Forsyth comes up short in third round Iredell County woman celebrates $100,000 scratch-off win Lake Norman residents voice concerns with Marshall Steam Station changes Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be defense secretary, responds to reporters during a meeting with Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Military leaders are rattled by a list of “woke” senior officers that a conservative group urged Hegseth to dismiss for promoting diversity in the ranks if he is confirmed to lead the Pentagon. The list compiled by the American Accountability Foundation includes 20 general officers or senior admirals and a disproportionate number of female officers. It has had a chilling effect on the Pentagon’s often frank discussions as leaders try to figure out how to address the potential firings and diversity issues under Trump. Those on the list in many cases seem to be targeted for public comments they made either in interviews or at events on diversity, and in some cases for retweeting posts that promote diversity. Tom Jones, a former aide to Republican senators who leads the foundation, said Friday those on the list are “pretty egregious” advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, policies, which he called problematic. “The nominee has been pretty clear that that has no place in the military,” Jones said of Hegseth. Hegseth embraced Trump’s effort to end programs that promote diversity in the ranks and fire those who reflect those values. Other Trump picks, like Kash Patel for FBI director, have suggested targeting those in government who are not aligned with Trump. Trump's allies forcefully rallied around Hegseth — the Heritage Foundation's political arm promised to spend $1 million to shore up his nomination — as he vows to stay in the fight, as long as the president-elect wants him to. Vice President-elect JD Vance offers a public show of support for Pete Hegseth, the embattled choice to lead the Defense Department. "We're not abandoning this nomination," Vance told reporters during a tour of western North Carolina. "We're not abandoning this nomination," Vice-President-elect JD Vance said as he toured post-hurricane North Carolina. He said he spoke with GOP senators and believes Hegseth will be confirmed. The effort became a test of Trump's clout and of how far loyalty for the president-elect goes with Republican senators who have concerns about his nominees. Two of Trump's other choices stepped aside as they faced intense scrutiny: former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., his first choice for attorney general, and Chad Chronister, a Florida sheriff who was Trump's first choice to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration. Thanking the president-elect for the support, Hegseth posted on social media, "Like you, we will never back down." Hegseth faces resistance from senators as reports emerged about his past, including the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. He promised not to drink on the job and told lawmakers he never engaged in sexual misconduct, even as his professional views on female troops came under intensifying scrutiny. He said as recently as last month that women "straight up" should not serve in combat. Biden is considering preemptive pardons for officials and allies before Trump takes office COLLEEN LONG, ZEKE MILLER and LISA MASCAROAssociated Press He picked up one important endorsement from Republican Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama, whose support was seen as a potentially powerful counterweight to the cooler reception Hegseth received from Sen. Joni Ernst, a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel. Ernst, who is also a sexual assault survivor, stopped short of an endorsement after meeting with Hegseth this week. On Friday, Ernst posted on X that she would meet with him again next week. “At a minimum, we agree that he deserves the opportunity to lay out his vision for our warfighters at a fair hearing,” she wrote. On Friday, Trump put out the statement in response to coverage saying he lost faith in Hegseth, according to a person familiar with his thinking who was not authorized to discuss it publicly. The president-elect and his team were pleased to see Hegseth putting up a fight and his performance this week reiterates why he was chosen, the person said. They believe he can still be confirmed. Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be defense secretary, left, joined by his wife Jennifer Rauchet, attends a meeting with Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) What to know about Pete Hegseth, Trump's pick to serve as defense secretary By MEG KINNARD - Associated Press If Hegseth goes down, Trump's team believes the defeat would empower others to spread what they cast as "vicious lies" against every candidate Trump chooses. Still, Trump's transition team is looking at potential replacements, including former presidential rival Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. DeSantis plans to attend the Dec. 14 Army-Navy football game with Trump, according to a person familiar with the Florida governor's plans who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. DeSantis and Trump spoke about the defense secretary post Tuesday at a memorial service for sheriff deputies in West Palm Beach, Fla., according to people familiar with the matter who said Trump was interested in DeSantis for the post, and the governor was receptive. DeSantis is poised to select a replacement for the expected Senate vacancy to be created by Marco Rubio becoming secretary of state, and Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump is seen as the preferred choice by those in Trump's orbit. Trump Pentagon pick had been flagged by fellow service member as possible 'Insider Threat' By TARA COPP, MICHELLE R. SMITH and JASON DEAREN - Associated Press Pete Hegseth's mother says The New York Times made 'threats' by asking her to comment on a story By DAVID BAUDER - AP Media Writer Here are the people Trump picked for key positions so far President-elect Donald Trump Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Marco Rubio, Secretary of State Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Pam Bondi, Attorney General Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Labor Secretary Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner, Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence Director Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. John Ratcliffe, Central Intelligence Agency Director Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Kash Patel, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel spent several years as a Justice Department prosecutor before catching the Trump administration’s attention as a staffer on Capitol Hill who helped investigate the Russia probe. Patel called for dramatically reducing the agency’s footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who sought additional resources for the bureau. Though the Justice Department in 2021 halted the practice of secretly seizing reporters’ phone records during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Paul Atkins, Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, 41, is a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk . He is the founder and CEO of a card-processing company and has collaborated closely with Musk ever since buying his first chartered SpaceX flight. He took contest winners on that 2021 trip and followed it in September with a mission where he briefly popped out the hatch to test SpaceX’s new spacewalking suits. Elise Stefanik, Ambassador to the United Nations Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. Matt Whitaker, Ambassador to NATO President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. David Perdue, Ambassador to China President-elect Donald Trump tapped former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China, saying in a social media post that the former CEO “brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China.” Perdue lost his Senate seat to Democrat Jon Ossoff four years ago and ran unsuccessfully in a primary against Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Perdue pushed Trump's debunked lies about electoral fraud during his failed bid for governor. Mike Huckabee, Ambassador to Israel Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Steven Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Keith Kellogg, Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Mike Waltz, National Security Adviser Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Tom Homan, ‘Border Czar’ Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Billy Long, Internal Revenue Service commissioner Former Rep. Billy Long represented Missouri in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2023. Since leaving Congress, Trump said, Long “has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations.” Kelly Loeffler, Small Business Administration administrator Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed in January 2020 by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and then lost a runoff election a year later. She started a conservative voter registration organization and dived into GOP fundraising, becoming one of the top individual donors and bundlers to Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign. Even before nominating her for agriculture secretary, the president-elect already had tapped Loeffler as co-chair of his inaugural committee. Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to advise White House on government efficiency Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Additional selections to the incoming White House Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns. He routinely appeared on Fox News during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrote opinion articles questioning masks for children. He cast doubt on vaccine mandates but supported vaccines generally. Makary also cast doubt on whether booster shots worked, which was against federal recommendations on the vaccine. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Surgeon General Nesheiwat is a general practitioner who serves as medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey. She has been a contributor to Fox News. Dr. Dave Weldon, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Weldon is a former Florida congressman who recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed Weldon’s opponent. In Congress, Weldon weighed in on one of the nation’s most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die and whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

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Elon Musk calls Trudeau an ‘insufferable tool’ on his social media platformIn this article SMCI NDAQ Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT The Super Micro Computer headquarters in San Jose, California, on Dec. 3, 2024. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Embattled server maker Super Micro Computer said on Friday that it received an extension from Nasdaq, giving the company until February to maintain its listing on the stock exchange. The stock rose 7% in extended trading. Super Micro has been facing the potential of being delisted from the Nasdaq because it has yet to file audited year-end financials for the latest fiscal year and is also late with its quarterly results. With Friday's announcement, Super Micro has until at least Feb. 25 to get its U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings submitted and accepted. "The Company's common stock will remain listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market during the exception period," Super Micro said in a press release . "If the Company files all the required reports by February 25, 2025, the common stock will remain listed, so long as the Company remains in compliance with Nasdaq's listing rules." Super Micro said it expects to be able to file the reports by the deadline. The risk of delisting has hung over Super Micro's stock in recent months following a huge rally. Sales have surged because Super Micro is one of the top vendors for Nvidia -based computer clusters for artificial intelligence. Super Micro says it expects sales growth of roughly 67% to about $25 billion in fiscal 2025. In October, Ernst & Young resigned as the company's auditor, and Super Micro named BDO to the position last month. The company's reputation also took a hit in August after activist investor Hindenburg Research revealed a short position and accused Super Micro of accounting manipulation. On Monday, Super Micro said it had completed an internal probe overseen by a board member that had found no evidence of misconduct . The company also said at the time that it planned to replace Chief Financial Officer David Weigand, and that it had appointed a new accounting chief. Super Micro shares soared more than 14-fold from the end of 2022 to their peak in March of this year, when it was added to the S&P 500. The stock has since lost about 60% of its value. The Nasdaq delisting process can take about a year depending on deadlines and appeals. Super Micro was previously delisted from the exchange in 2018. Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO This is the biggest AI winner two years after ChatGPT's debut — and it's not Nvidia Goldman Sachs has a trading strategy to score a few big wins before year end Bernstein says this tech stock is its best idea for 2025, could be added to S&P 500 Oracle is on pace for the best year since 1999. What led to the meteoric rise WATCH: Super Micro appoints BDO as auditor watch now VIDEO 1:06 01:06 Super Micro appoints BDO as independent auditor Fast MoneyEagles’ Jalen Hurts claims beef with A.J. Brown was made up: ‘BG knows he spoke out of place’

By Brendan Hesse on December 6, 2024 at 4:05PM PST GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links. Best Buy's Black Friday Sale may be over, but the retailer still has plenty of holiday deals to take advantage of, including a three-day Doorbuster sale that sees up to 50% off select toys, trading cards, and collectibles between December 6 and December 8. The list of discounts includes everything from Pokemon and Disney Lorcana trading cards and Lego sets to action figures, plushies, and more. We've highlighted some of the best Doorbuster deals below, and you can see the full lineup at Best Buy. $38 ( $50 ) One notable deal is the Best Buy-exclusive Pokemon TCG Paradox Wisdom Premium Collection that's on sale for $38 (was $50). This box includes: Iron Leaves ex promo card Iron Crown ex promo card Iron Boulder ex promo card Oversized Iron Crown ex promo card Seven Pokemon TCG booster packs (10 cards per pack) Magnetic three-card display Pokemon TCG Live code $100 ( $120 ) Other Pokemon TCG sets are also part of the Doorbuster sale, including the Terapagos ex Ultra-Premium Collection for $100 (was $120). This set includes: One foil promo Terapagos ex card One foil promo Lapras ex card One foil promo Cinderace ex card 18 booster packs (10 cards per pack) Eight foil energy cards Magnetic three-card protector Playmat Deck box Metallic coin Six damage counters Two condition markers A Pokemon TCG Live code. $12.49 ( $25 ) You'll also find discounts on releases from other popular trading card games, like the Lorcana Gateway Box for $12.49 (was $25). This set includes two pre-made decks and a selection of bonus card packs, plus gameplay accessories and gameboard. This is a great intro set for new players. $4 per pack (was $6 per pack) If you're looking to add to your existing Lorcana card collection, you can grab boosters from the Ursula's Return and Shimmering Skies sets for $4 per pack (normally $6 per pack). $16 ( $30 ) Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG fans can snag the Yu-Gi-Oh! 25th Anniversary Rarirty Collection 2 Tuckbox for $16 (was $30). Each box contains three five-card booster packs with a unique selection of rare foil cards. $105 ( $150 ) For Lego deals, the Lego Icons Corvette kit is on sale for $105 (normally $150). This 1210-piece kit is packed with cool details like a mini replica of the original Corvette engine under the hood, a moving steering wheel, and a convertible top, making it a great gift idea for fans of classic cars. Another Lego set included in the sale is the Lego Ideas Home Alone display set . While Best Buy was offering the festive kit for just $240 (down from $300), it's already sold out. There's a chance it could be restocked later, so it's worth checking to see if it's available again. If you're still looking to pick it up, the Home Alone Lego set is still in stock at Amazon and available at the full $300 price is still charging the full $300. $50 ( $75 ) Other Doorbuster deals at Best Buy include price cuts to popular collectibles like MacFarlane Toys' Fallout Figure Four-Pack for $50 (was $75), which includes six-inch posable figures of Lucy, The Ghoul, Maximus, and the Vault Boy mascot as seen in the Fallout TV show. $17.49 ( $35 ) You can also grab this adorable 10-inch Banjo and Kazooie plushie made by Club Mochi Mochi for just $17.49 (was $35), which is one of the lowest prices we've seen for the officially licensed collectible. Upvote Leave Blank12 Industrials Stocks Moving In Tuesday's Pre-Market Session

The NSW government will "throw everything" behind an investigation into an antisemitic incident overnight as Australia's peak Jewish body urges the prime minister to ramp up efforts to tackle what it says is a crisis. Emergency services responded to reports of a vehicle on fire in Woollahra in Sydney's east at around 1am on Wednesday, with Fire and Rescue NSW extinguishing the blaze. That vehicle and another, as well as two buildings and a footpath, were graffitied. The graffiti on one of the buildings said 'Kill Israiel' (sic). It's the second attack in the same suburb within weeks. 10/12/2024 04:22 Play 'Attempts to divide our city' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns were among those who condemned the attack, labelling it an antisemitic incident. Minns said attempts to divide Sydney "won't work" and the offenders would face "the full force of the law". He said it was "a violent act of destruction, clearly antisemitic, designed to strike fear into the community that lives in this part of Sydney". Police are searching for two people believed to have been in the area at the time. The perpetrators are believed to be two people of slim build, aged between 15 and 20 years, wearing face coverings and dark clothing. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas Albanese wrote on social media that there was "no place for antisemitism in our community". He told ABC radio the vandalism was "an attack on people because they happen to be Jewish", calling it a "hate crime". The incident has been escalated to the Australian Federal Police, who Albanese announced had established an antisemitism taskforce earlier this week. NSW police commissioner Karen Webb said a "full police response is underway" and that police are conducting an "extensive investigation". Earlier, NSW Police and Counter-Terrorism Minister Yasmin Catley pledged the state government would "throw everything we can" behind the investigation. "We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, acts of hatred and violence directed at our Jewish community," Catley said in a statement. "There is no place for hatred or antisemitism in our society. Every person has the right to feel safe in their own city, their homes, and their places of worship." Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas 'Antisemitism crisis' The incident comes after the Adass Israel Synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne's south-east was set alight in a pre-dawn attack on Friday while a number of people were inside. Police are treating it as a "likely" act of terrorism. Speaking outside the synagogue on Wednesday, Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said the vandalism in Woollahra was designed to terrorise Jewish Australians. "The Jewish community again wakes to scenes of terror and devastation," he said. "How long will this continue, and with what horrors will it end?" Source: AAP / Joel Carrett Ryvchin said after the attack on the synagogue, his organisation has "appealed to the prime minister with urgent requests" to address what he called an antisemitism crisis. Albanese visited the synagogue on Tuesday, where he promised to support its rebuild but was jeered by some angry with his handling of the situation . He committed his government to provide support to rebuild the synagogue, will provide funding for the restoration of the salvageable scrolls, and the replacement of those that are beyond repair. The Victorian government announced 15 community organisations would receive $950,000 in security funding. Grants of up to $200,000 were available to Jewish community organisations to support the purchase, installation or improvement of security equipment at community facilities. 'Harmful': Liberal senator's 'fictitious Islamophobia' claim condemned Islamic school bus torched Meanwhile, a bus belonging to an Islamic school in Adelaide was set alight in suspicious circumstances over the weekend. Independent senator Fatima Payman has questioned whether there was a double standard over incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia, saying the government had rightly condemned the synagogue attack, "yet there is no outrage" over the bus being torched. "Two acts of arson, two acts of hate, but two very different responses," she said in a social media video on Tuesday. Police in South Australia are investigating but say no evidence has been found to indicate it was racially motivated. — With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.

Hegseth, a former Fox News host, Army National Guard major and combat veteran, spent much of the week on Capitol Hill trying to salvage his Cabinet nomination and privately reassure Republican senators that he is fit to lead Trump's Pentagon. "Pete Hegseth is doing very well," Trump posted on his social media site. "He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense." The president added that "Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!" The nomination battle is emerging not only as a debate about the best person to lead the Pentagon, but an inflection point for a MAGA movement that appears to be relishing a public fight over its hard-line push for a more masculine military and an end to the "woke-ism" of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Military leaders are rattled by a list of “woke” senior officers that a conservative group urged Hegseth to dismiss for promoting diversity in the ranks if he is confirmed to lead the Pentagon. The list compiled by the American Accountability Foundation includes 20 general officers or senior admirals and a disproportionate number of female officers. It has had a chilling effect on the Pentagon’s often frank discussions as leaders try to figure out how to address the potential firings and diversity issues under Trump. Those on the list in many cases seem to be targeted for public comments they made either in interviews or at events on diversity, and in some cases for retweeting posts that promote diversity. Tom Jones, a former aide to Republican senators who leads the foundation, said Friday those on the list are “pretty egregious” advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, policies, which he called problematic. “The nominee has been pretty clear that that has no place in the military,” Jones said of Hegseth. Hegseth embraced Trump’s effort to end programs that promote diversity in the ranks and fire those who reflect those values. Other Trump picks, like Kash Patel for FBI director, have suggested targeting those in government who are not aligned with Trump. Trump's allies forcefully rallied around Hegseth — the Heritage Foundation's political arm promised to spend $1 million to shore up his nomination — as he vows to stay in the fight, as long as the president-elect wants him to. "We're not abandoning this nomination," Vice-President-elect JD Vance said as he toured post-hurricane North Carolina. He said he spoke with GOP senators and believes Hegseth will be confirmed. The effort became a test of Trump's clout and of how far loyalty for the president-elect goes with Republican senators who have concerns about his nominees. Two of Trump's other choices stepped aside as they faced intense scrutiny: former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., his first choice for attorney general, and Chad Chronister, a Florida sheriff who was Trump's first choice to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration. Thanking the president-elect for the support, Hegseth posted on social media, "Like you, we will never back down." Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Hegseth faces resistance from senators as reports emerged about his past, including the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. He promised not to drink on the job and told lawmakers he never engaged in sexual misconduct, even as his professional views on female troops came under intensifying scrutiny. He said as recently as last month that women "straight up" should not serve in combat. He picked up one important endorsement from Republican Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama, whose support was seen as a potentially powerful counterweight to the cooler reception Hegseth received from Sen. Joni Ernst, a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel. Ernst, who is also a sexual assault survivor, stopped short of an endorsement after meeting with Hegseth this week. On Friday, Ernst posted on X that she would meet with him again next week. “At a minimum, we agree that he deserves the opportunity to lay out his vision for our warfighters at a fair hearing,” she wrote. On Friday, Trump put out the statement in response to coverage saying he lost faith in Hegseth, according to a person familiar with his thinking who was not authorized to discuss it publicly. The president-elect and his team were pleased to see Hegseth putting up a fight and his performance this week reiterates why he was chosen, the person said. They believe he can still be confirmed. If Hegseth goes down, Trump's team believes the defeat would empower others to spread what they cast as "vicious lies" against every candidate Trump chooses. Still, Trump's transition team is looking at potential replacements, including former presidential rival Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. DeSantis plans to attend the Dec. 14 Army-Navy football game with Trump, according to a person familiar with the Florida governor's plans who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. DeSantis and Trump spoke about the defense secretary post Tuesday at a memorial service for sheriff deputies in West Palm Beach, Fla., according to people familiar with the matter who said Trump was interested in DeSantis for the post, and the governor was receptive. DeSantis is poised to select a replacement for the expected Senate vacancy to be created by Marco Rubio becoming secretary of state, and Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump is seen as the preferred choice by those in Trump's orbit.

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What happens when you combine the satiric spirit of filmmaker Mel Brooks and cram into a parody of the galaxy exploring No Man’s Sky ? You get something like Journey to the Savage Planet , a funny, world conquering blaster fest that proves Ian Malcolm’s chaos theory of colonization while also providing a healthy dose of good, ol’ fashioned fart jokes. Unfortunately, the game’s original studio Typhoon Studios got swallowed up and spat out when Google closed down its Stadia Games and Entertainment division and all of its studios in 2019. Fortunately for us, some of those developers got back together, formed a new outfit called Raccoon Logic, raised some investment money from Tencent and took back the rights to their game for a brand new adventure. A sequel called Revenge of the Savage Planet is on its way to PC, Xbox Series X/S and PS5 in May of next year and a trailer just popped up during the PC Gaming Show. Revenge of the Savage Planet appears to be sticking to its roots as a comedy adventure game about ruthless corporations battling the forces of nature across the galaxy for more territory it can call its own. The trailer features the return of Martin Tweed, the ruthless CEO of Kindred Technologies. There’s also a new FMV character in the trailer called Gunther Harrison, another ruthless CEO from a rival corporation called Alta Interglobal, who looks like a cross between Megamind and Morbo from Futurama. The new game can be played in solo or co-op mode. There are chances to uncover secrets, battle alien beasts and build your own colony on these worlds. There’s also a lot of flying slime, silly violence and savage attacks on corporate colonization thrown into the mix. If that’s what you liked about the first version, then it looks like there’s plenty more where that came from with Revenge of the Savage Planet .The U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether Tennessee's Senate Bill 1 -- which prohibits certain types of medical treatments for minors with diagnosed gender dysphoria -- is constitutional. Outside the courthouse in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, dozens of protesters on both sides of the debate rallied for their cause. One protester, West Virginia resident and trans activist Ash Orr, took his prescribed dose of testosterone outside the steps of the Supreme Court, as the justices heard oral arguments for and against Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors. "Even though inside that building, our bodily autonomy was being up for discussion, at that moment in time, we were in control," said Orr, 34, about his act in protest of the ban. "We were in control of our decisions, of our body, of doing what's best for us as trans individuals." As the court decides whether to uphold or block the ban, Orr reflected on his younger self and the importance of having access to what he calls “lifesaving” care. Orr, who says he was closeted in his youth, said that access to gender-affirming care as an adult and being supported by an inclusive and affirming community has allowed him to "thrive." "I was very suicidal when I was younger because I felt trapped in my body," said Orr. "I did not have the terminology or the resources to explain how I was feeling and the help that I needed and that to me trying to take my life at a very early age. And I do feel that had I had access to this health care, I would have seen less struggles growing up. ... I don't think folks understand that we all should have the freedom to decide what's best for our lives." The lawsuit against Tennessee was brought by the Department of Justice, but has been led by a 15-year-old Nashville transgender girl and her parents. The law restricts access to puberty blockers, hormone therapies and surgeries for gender transitioning. However, it allows non-transgender minors access to the same or similar medical procedures. The DOJ and the Nashville family say Tennessee's restrictions on gender-affirming care violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment because it discriminates against transgender kids specifically. Tennessee officials argue that the constitution guarantees states "the right and responsibility to protect children, regulate the medical profession, and independently evaluate the evidence of the risks and benefits of practices to be regulated," Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said in an online statement about the Supreme Court arguments. "Our arguments were ultimately about constitutional clarity and common sense," said Attorney General Skrmetti. "We cannot allow ideology to override medical evidence at the expense of our right to self-government and our duty to protect our children." MORE: Transgender residents living under bathroom ban reflect on Sarah McBride controversy Puberty blockers delay the development of certain physical characteristics, including the growth of breasts and facial hair as well as changes in a person's voice. Once blockers are stopped, health professionals have told ABC News that puberty continues with little to no proven side effects. Teens who receive hormone therapy take either estrogen or testosterone based on their gender identity. Changes from hormone therapy occur slowly and are partially reversible, experts explain, such as changes in voice and body hair. Health professionals have told ABC News that surgeries for people under 18 are quite rare and only considered on a case-by-case basis. Transgender people -- who make up less than 1% of Americans over the age of 13, according to UCLA's research organization, the Williams Institute -- have been the subjects of Republican-backed legislation in dozens of states across the country. Dozens of bans have popped up restricting changes in gender markers on IDs, transgender bathroom use, gender-affirming care bans, and more. Right now, at least 24 states have general bans on several forms of medical gender-affirming care for minors, according to LGBTQ legislation tracker Movement Advancement Project . Two other states solely ban surgeries for transgender youth. Medical organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and others say gender-affirming care is safe, effective, beneficial, and may be medically necessary for some transgender youth. They argue bans that restrict individualized, age-appropriate gender-affirming care infringe on a family's right to make medical decisions with their doctors. MORE: Landmark Supreme Court case weighs gender-affirming care for trans kids Critics of access to gender-affirming youth care say that families should wait until their children are older to make these decisions. Tennessee argued before the Supreme Court that the law is "protecting children" from what are "irreversible and unproven gender transition procedures." “Tennessee’s General Assembly reviewed the medical evidence, as well as the evidence-based decisions of European countries that restricted these procedures, and ultimately passed this bipartisan law prohibiting irreversible medical interventions," said Skrmetti. "The plaintiffs in this case are asking the Court to take the power to regulate the practice of medicine away from the people’s elected representatives and vest it in unaccountable judges." Montana State Rep. Zooey Zephyr, the first openly trans lawmaker in the state , was at the Supreme Court protesting in opposition to Tennessee's ban. Being outside of the Supreme Court, she said it reminded her of the long history of the fight for LGBTQ civil rights -- from the Stonewall Uprisings to protests in favor of marriage equality. "You have moments of hardship like Stonewall, but you also have moments where the community has come together. If you look after the Stonewall Riots the day after, you see photos of LGBTQ people standing arm in arm, smiling, being proud that they have stood by and stood up for one another," said Zephyr. She said: "the people at that rally know what's at stake, and they know the type of court that is hearing this case, but the people I saw down there yesterday were also carving out space for one another and surrounding ourselves with other queer people and finding joy in that community." Zephyr was censured and barred from the House floor in her first term for encouraging protesters after pleading on the state House floor for legislators to vote against a gender-affirming care ban for transgender youth that they ultimately passed. She said she recently worked with Republican legislators in her state to reject a transgender bathroom ban in the state House and Senate. She argues that anti-transgender rhetoric and legislation have been a distraction from the issues facing average Americans: "Leave trans people alone, let us live our lives and let our representatives get back to trying to make our states better places for all of us." If you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health crisis or considering suicide, call or text 988.By Bassey Willie, Yenagoa The Nigeria Police Force, Zone 16, has expressed shock over the death of DIG Moses Jetoboh, the former aide-de-camp to former President Goodluck Jonathan. Jetoboh, who served as the ADC to Jonathan when he was the governor of Bayelsa State and Vice President, passed on Friday at a hospital in Abuja, aged 54. Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 16, AIG Adebola Hamzat, in a statement by the zonal spokesman, SP Gunn Ewhoborwo Emonema, on Saturday, expressed sympathised with the family of the late DIG and the good people of Bayelsa state over the death of Bayelsa born cop. He said that Jetoboh’s contributions to the Nigeria Police Force, dedication to service and integrity can never be forgotten, adding that before his retirement in 2023, he was DIG in-charge of the Department of Research and Planning, and served as DIG Department of Information & Communications Technology (ICT), Force Headquarters. Hundreds find succour in Kano one-bed health centre Ajaokuta suffering from bad political decisions – Dayo Kunle He said: “The passing of DIG Moses Ambakina Jitoboh is a great loss, not only to the immediate family but to the entire Bayelsa State, Nigeria Police Force and the nation at large. “It is our prayer that God will give the immediate family the strength to bear the irreplaceable loss of your beloved son. “On behalf of the entire officers and men of the Zone, Please accept the heartfelt condolences of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 16 Command,” the statement said. Born on June 1, 1970, Jetoboh was enlisted into the police orce on June 10, 1994 as a cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police. He served as the aide-de-camp (ADC) to former President Jonathan, and quickly rose through the ranks in the Nigeria Police Force. Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You. Jonathan's Ex-ADC mourn Police Hierarchycgebet2 com live casino login

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MIAMI (AP) — Keyone Jenkins threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns and Florida International beat Middle Tennessee 35-24 on Saturday to end the regular season for both teams. Lexington Joseph had a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, Devonte Lyons had a 21-yard scoring run later in the frame and FIU (4-8, 3-5 Conference USA) led the entire way. Jenkins threw scoring passes of 38 and 19 yards to Dean Patterson and 50 yards to Eric Rivers. The touchdown pass to Rivers marked FIU's largest lead of the contest at 35-17 with 11:01 left in the fourth. Nicholas Vattiato threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns for the Blue Raiders (3-9, 2-6). He was intercepted once. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballNone

SINGAPORE , Nov. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Amber DWM Holding Limited ("Amber DWM"), the holding entity of Amber Group's digital wealth management business, known as Amber Premium ("Amber Premium"), today announced that it has entered into a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited ("iClick" or the "Listco") (NASDAQ: ICLK) and Overlord Merger Sub Ltd. ("Merger Sub"), a Cayman Islands exempted company and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of the Listco. Under the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Amber DWM, with Amber DWM continuing as the surviving entity and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Listco (the "Merger"). Amber DWM's shareholders will exchange all of their issued and outstanding share capital for a mix of newly issued Class A and Class B ordinary shares of the Listco on the terms and conditions set forth therein in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements under the Securities Act of 1933. Wayne Huo , Chief Executive Officer and Director of Amber DWM , said: " We are thrilled to embark on this transformative journey with iClick. This merger represents a significant milestone, bringing together Amber Premium's expertise in digital wealth management and iClick's innovative marketing technology. Together, we aim to redefine the digital financial ecosystem, delivering unparalleled value to our clients and stakeholders. By bridging the worlds of blockchain, fintech and digital marketing, we are unlocking new opportunities to revolutionize how value is created and exchanged in the digital economy ." The transaction values Amber DWM at US$360 million and the Listco at US$40 million by equity value on a fully diluted basis (assuming completion of certain restructuring as set forth in the Merger Agreement). Upon closing of the Merger (the "Closing"), the Amber DWM shareholders and the Listco shareholders (including holders of ADSs) will own approximately 90% and 10%, respectively, of the outstanding shares of the combined company, or 97% and 3% voting power, respectively. The Merger Agreement also contemplates that, upon the Closing, the Listco will change its name to "Amber International Holding Limited" and adopt the tenth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Listco, in each case immediately before the effective time of the Merger (the "Effective Time"), following which the authorized share capital of the Listco shall only consist of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares (with different voting powers but equal economic rights), a par value of US$0.001 each. Please refer to the Merger Agreement filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Form 6-K furnished by the Listco to the SEC on November 29, 2024 for more details. The Listco's board of directors (the "Board") approved the Merger Agreement and other transaction documents, including but not limited to the voting agreement entered into by and among certain shareholders of the Listco (who holds approximately 36% of the outstanding shares representing 71% voting power of the Listco as of the date of this press release), the Listco and Amber DWM (the "Voting Agreement") (collectively, the "Transaction Documents"), and the transactions contemplated thereunder (the "Transactions"), with the assistance of its financial and legal advisors. The Board also resolved to recommend that the Listco's shareholders vote to authorize and approve the Transaction Documents and the Transactions when they are submitted for shareholder approval. In connection with the Transaction, each of the shareholders of Amber DWM immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger is entering into a lock-up agreement with the Listco pursuant to which they have agreed not to transfer the shares received in consideration of the Merger for a period of 12 months following the Merger closing. The completion of the Transactions is subject to the satisfaction of closing conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including, among other things, receipt of the Listco's shareholder approval and regulatory/stock exchange approvals (if applicable). The Merger Agreement provides for a long-stop date for any party to terminate the agreement if the Merger is not completed by June 30, 2025 . " This merger represents a transformative opportunity to broaden our business portfolio by integrating Amber Premium's state-of-the-art digital wealth management solutions. By uniting iClick's robust data analytic and enterprise software expertise with Amber Premium's advanced digital wealth management services, we aim to unblock synergies between traditional finance and the rapidly evolving digital asset ecosystem, particularly benefitting corporate and high net worth individual clients ", said Mr. Jian Tang , Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of iClick . The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement and the Voting Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety to the full text of the Merger Agreement and the Voting Agreement, which are filed as Exhibits 99.2 and 99.3 to the Form 6-K furnished by the Listco to the SEC on 29, 2024, respectively. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is serving as U.S. legal counsel to Amber DWM. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is serving as U.S. legal counsel to iClick. About Amber Premium Amber Premium, the business brand behind Amber DWM Holding Limited, is a leading digital wealth management platform offering private banking-level solutions tailored for the dynamic crypto economy. Serving a premium clientele of esteemed institutions and qualified individuals, Amber Premium develops and supports innovative digital wealth management products. Its institutional-grade access and operations makes it the top choice for one-stop digital wealth management services, providing tailored, secure solutions that drive growth in the Web3 economy. About iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited Founded in 2009, iClick Interactive Asia Group Limited (NASDAQ: ICLK) is a renowned online marketing and enterprise solutions provider in Asia . With its leading proprietary technologies, iClick's full suite of data-driven solutions helps brands drive significant business growth and profitability throughout the full consumer lifecycle. For more information, please visit https://ir.i-click.com . Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements." These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the pending transactions described herein, and the parties' perspectives and expectations, are forward-looking statements. The words "will," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "plan" and similar expressions indicate forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and shareholders and other potential investors must recognize that actual results may differ materially from the expectations as a result of a variety of factors. Such forward-looking statements are based upon management's current expectations and include known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are hard to predict or control, that may cause the actual results, performance, or plans to differ materially from any future results, performance or plans expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (i) risks related to the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the proposed transaction, including the risk that the transaction may not close due to one or more closing conditions to the transaction not being satisfied or waived; (ii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the applicable transaction agreements; (iii) the risk that there may be a material adverse change with respect to the financial position, performance, operations or prospects of the Listco, Amber DWM or the combined entity; (iv) risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction; (v) the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of the Listco's securities; (vi) the risk that the proposed transaction and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of Amber DWM or the combined entity to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with their suppliers and customers and on their operating results and businesses generally; (vii) any changes in the business or operating prospects of Amber DWM and the combined entity or their businesses; (viii) changes in applicable laws and regulations; and (ix) risks relating to Amber DWM's and the combined company's ability to enhance their services and products, execute their business strategy, expand their customer base and maintain stable relationship with their business partners. A further list and description of risks and uncertainties can be found in the proxy statement that will be filed with the SEC by the Listco in connection with the proposed transactions, and other documents that the parties may file or furnish with the SEC, which you are encouraged to read. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate only to the date they were made, and the Listco, Amber DWM and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made except as required by law or applicable regulation. No Offer or Solicitation This press release is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the transactions described above and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of Amber DWM, the Listco or the combined company, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom. Participants in the Solicitation The Listco, Amber DWM and their respective directors and executive officers may also be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of the Listco in connection with the proposed transaction. A list of the names of such directors and executive officers and information regarding their interests in the proposed transaction will be included in the proxy statement pertaining to the proposed transaction when it becomes available for the proposed transaction. Additional Information and Where to Find It The Listco will file with the SEC and mail to its shareholders a proxy statement in connection with the proposed transaction. Investors and securityholders are urged to read the proxy statement when it becomes available because it will contain important information regarding the proposed arrangement. You may access the proxy statement (when available) and other related documents filed by the Listco with the SEC at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . You also may obtain the proxy statement (when it is available) and other documents filed by the Listco with the SEC relating to the proposed arrangement for free by accessing the Listco's website at ir.i-click.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amber-groups-subsidiary-amber-dwm-holding-limited-and-nasdaq-listed-iclick-interactive-asia-group-limited-enter-into-a-definitive-merger-agreement-302319082.html SOURCE Amber GroupLearn the Importance of Commercial Pressure Washing With Innovation Power Washing 12-27-2024 10:16 PM CET | Politics, Law & Society Press release from: ABNewswire Wayne, NJ - Operating a business comes with a unique collection of challenges. Customers need to be attended to so they feel welcome. Employees must be managed correctly so that they can do their jobs correctly and efficiently. On top of this, there are all the records that need to be kept and all the paperwork that needs to be filled out. It can be tempting to remove commercial pressure washing [ https://www.innovationpowerwashing.com/commercial-pressure-washing-company-in-wayne-nj/ ] from the list of responsibilities, but there are many reasons why it should remain a high priority. As a local pressure washing company, Innovation Power Washing [ https://www.innovationpowerwashing.com/ ] is familiar with these reasons and lays them out below. Cleaner Surfaces Create More Comfortable Environments One of the biggest focuses of any business owner is maintaining a comfortable environment that makes customers feel welcome. Many decisions are made with precisely this in mind. For example, what sorts of lights will be installed? How will furniture be arranged? And what colors should the walls be painted? In a similar vein, it is important to clean the exterior surfaces of the business. Consider the difference between a clean, bright front walk versus one that is smothered with debris. Consider also recently washed outside walls versus those that are covered with moss and graffiti. Not only will cleaner exterior surfaces make customers feel more at home, but passersby will be more likely to park, check out your business, and become regular customers in turn. Help Surfaces Last Longer With Pressure Washing It can be frustrating when a large expense appears out of the blue. This is as true for commercial property owners and business owners as it is for anyone else. Because of this, it is important to prevent these large expenses whenever possible, and this is another way that commercial pressure washing can come in handy. Pressure washing removes harmful debris from surfaces, prevents debris from eroding the surfaces, and in turn, reduces the chance of cracks, gaps, and potholes forming over time. Cleaning exterior surfaces to prevent damage is especially important for roofs, believe it or not. Over time, roofs can collect harmful substances such as moss. Moss roots itself into shingles, creates passages for water to enter, and exacerbates the risk of moisture damage. This can even result in a leak over time-which customers will surely not appreciate. Ensure this does not happen by keeping an eye on all the business's exterior surfaces and washing them whenever needed. Professional Pressure Washing Saves Time With all that said, it is still a very real possibility that business owners lack the time or energy to pressure wash their own properties. It is also worth noting that pressure washing requires specific equipment, proper training, and safety knowledge (e.g. "What precautions should I take when washing a roof?"). Because of this, Innovation Power Washing provides commercial pressure washing services to the Wayne, NJ community. By scheduling these services, business owners can avoid the physical labor involved with the work, and they can focus on their other responsibilities in the meantime. About Innovation Power Washing Innovation Power Washing is a locally owned business that specializes in pressure washing exterior surfaces, including driveways, patios, outside walls, and roofs. Not only does the company assist commercial clients, but it also takes on residential projects. This means that customers from all walks of life in Wayne, NJ [ https://g.co/kgs/uUkb7wV ] can receive the assistance they need from Innovation Power Washing-and for a fair price too. For more information about Innovation Power Washing, visit their website [ https://www.innovationpowerwashing.com/ ] or call (973) 750-8757. Media Contact Company Name: Innovation Power Washing Contact Person: Victor Zuniga Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=learn-the-importance-of-commercial-pressure-washing-with-innovation-power-washing ] City: Wayne State: NJ Country: United States Website: https://www.innovationpowerwashing.com/ This release was published on openPR.

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Rookie Bucky Irving relishes opportunity to help Buccaneers any way he can against skidding RaidersMIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Wake Forest figured it wouldn't keep Miami's offense quiet forever. To their chagrin, the Demon Deacons were right. Cam Ward passed for 280 yards and threw two touchdowns to Jacolby George on another record-breaking day, Mishael Powell ran an interception back 76 yards for a touchdown and No. 11 Miami pulled away with 22 fourth-quarter points to beat Wake Forest 42-14 on Saturday. The Hurricanes (10-1, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference, No. 8 College Football Playoff) can clinch a berth in the ACC title game with a win at Syracuse next weekend. No. 13 SMU clinched the other spot by routing Virginia 33-7 on Saturday. “We still have nothing to lose,” Ward said. “At the end of the day, Miami was a mid team last year. We're better than they were last year. We have nothing to lose. It's good to control your destiny another week, but it doesn't mean anything if we don't win.” Ward completed 27 of 38 passes, plus ran for a score. He broke two more single-season Miami records, both of which had been held for 40 years by Bernie Kosar — most passing yards in a season and most completions in a season. Ward now has 3,774 yards on 268 completions this season. Kosar threw for 3,642 yards on 262 completions in 1984. Demond Claiborne had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown for Wake Forest (4-7, 2-5). Claiborne also rushed for 62 yards for the Demon Deacons, and starting quarterback Hank Bachmeier was 8 of 14 passing for 86 yards and a touchdown. Wake was within 20-14 going into the fourth quarter. And then, it was all Miami. “With Miami and their offense, it’s a matter of time," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. "I thought our defense played really, really well — but in the fourth quarter, when the dam broke, it broke. And that’s what good teams do.” The game was offensively deceiving, given how it started. Miami went 84 yards for a touchdown on the game's first possession, Ward going 6 for 6 on the drive and capping it with a 13-yard scoring throw to George. Wake Forest answered with a 75-yard drive, Bachmeier finding Micah Mays Jr. from 36 yards out to tie the game. And neither offense found the end zone again until the fourth quarter. Wake Forest got 118 yards on 50 plays — 2.4 yards per play — after that seven-play, nearly 11-yard-per-play opening march. “Story of the game was the defense, without a doubt," Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “After that first series, the busted coverage, that's what Miami Hurricane defense should look like.” Powell's interception return TD put Miami up 17-7 in the second quarter; the 10-point lead lasted 15 seconds, the time Claiborne needed to run the ensuing kickoff the length of the field for a touchdown and get Wake Forest within 17-14. Ward rushed in from a yard out with 7:58 left and, after Wake Forest fumbled the ensuing kickoff, Jordan Lyle scored on an 18-yard run to make it 35-14. Lyle finished with a game-high 115 yards rushing and George scored again with 1:53 left. Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons were roundly booed — and even called out by Ward on the field — when safety Evan Slocum went down and indicated he had a cramp on a Miami drive late in the first half. Ploy or not, the Hurricanes stalled from there and settled for a field goal. Slocum was on the field to start the second half. Miami: The Hurricanes reached 10 wins for the 16th time in school history, all since 1983. It's the first 10-win season for Miami since 2017 and makes Cristobal the seventh coach to have such a season for the Hurricanes. He did it twice with Oregon. The Hurricanes wore “DB 40” decals on their helmets Saturday to honor All-American fullback and College Football Hall of Famer Don Bosseler, who died earlier this month. Bosseler, a star at Miami in the mid-1950s, was 88. Miami has been in the AP Top 25 every week this season and that won't change. The CFP rankings likely will still list the Hurricanes as the ACC title favorite. Wake Forest: Hosts Duke on Saturday. Miami: Visits Syracuse on Saturday. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballVice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has said the Government is open to suggestions on helping the local private sector transport their goods from ports in Trinidad and Tobago, where an industrial dispute has resulted in delays in shipments to Guyana. “We are open to ideas, working with the private sector to get their goods out of Trinidad and Tobago,” Jagdeo told a press conference on Thursday. The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) in a statement on Monday explained that the over two months’ long industrial dispute between workers and port authority in the twin island Republic has resulted in significant delays in the clearance of containers carrying goods intended for Guyana. The GMSA added that businesses in Guyana are experiencing “substantial financial losses, particularly during this critical Christmas season when import volumes are significantly higher.” The private sector body then called on the Guyana Government to work with their counterparts to urgently intervene and facilitate a resolution. But Jagdeo explained that there is “very little” the Government can do to intervene in an industrial dispute in another country. He said the Vreed en Hoop Shorebase facility should provide some relief soon by allowing for greater movement of containers in and out of the country. Jagdeo added that when the new Demerara River Bridge is opened, containers can land on the west side of the Demerara River and then be easily transported to Georgetown and other areas. However, he said the ultimate goal is to have a deep water harbour. Jagdeo explained that the new idea is to build a causeway to mitigate challenges with dredging the mouth of the Berbice River. He previously told reporters “we’re looking at a causeway proposal where you build out into the Atlantic, in the deep, so we don’t have to have dredging costs.” A causeway is a raised path, railway or road across wet ground, in this case, the ocean. This differs from a bridge since there is little or no opening underneath, instead, it consists of a crest with embankments on either side. With such a facility, Jagdeo said large vessels can come directly to Guyana, instead of having to dock in the islands and then containers be transshipped to Guyana. “We can then become a hub for regional trade for goods coming to Guyana and then being transshipped from here back into the islands and to Suriname and some going into northern Brazil. That’s the concept we’re working on now but when you look at the cost of doing that, its significant,” he noted. According to the Vice President, this project may have to await the next term of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration but the idea will be further explored in the meantime.

Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Belfast News Letter, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Danny Gibson kicked off the scoring for Carrick but Daithi McCallion grabbed a Ballymena equaliser. Nedas Maciulaitis was the Carrick hero on the scoresheet – but only a collective effort helped the visitors leave Ballymena with full points following a red card for goalkeeper Ross Glendinning at 2-1. Advertisement Advertisement Here’s the verdict of Carrick Rangers boss Stephen Baxter (as told to BBC Sport NI): OVERALL PERFORMANCE... "We played very well here today...we came with a game plan, letting them have the ball a bit and springing them on the counter attack – which worked well. "Second half we got ourselves in front, we had to absorb some pressure and we are disappointed with the goal we conceded. “But the reply was superb." NEDAS MACIULAITIS’ WINNER... "The quality of the goal, it should win any game.” 10-MAN SUCCESS.. "But then you go get your goalkeeper sent off and you have to see the game out with 10 men. "Which we did, so it’s a pleasing result.”The Binoculars Global Market Is Forecast To Grow At A CAGR of 5.2% To Reach $1.27 Billion By 2028An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition

Though I am an atheist, I have built my life and career around religion. First I spent five years pursuing ordination as a secular humanist rabbi, including 18 months living in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, studying ancient and modern Jewish sacred texts I believed—and continue to believe—are human creations, reflective not of divine inspiration but our own projections and needs. From there I moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where I’ve spent almost 20 years now as the humanist chaplain at Harvard University. Advising atheists, agnostics, and allies on ethical and , my work has taken , including writing about and building a diversely nonreligious . But as we approached the end of the past decade, I’d begun to wonder whether the congregation, as a form of organizing, was really how I wanted to spend my energy. Yes, congregations can help “give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together,” as is roughly how I’d imagined them in my rabbinical seminary and . The problem is, that isn’t my language—it’s a quote from Facebook’s mission statement, as Mark Zuckerberg relaunched it in 2017. When I was invited to join MIT as its humanist chaplain in 2018, alongside my work at Harvard, it first occurred to me: Silicon Valley, or “Big Tech,” had superseded religion as the largest force in the world, not only economically, but in terms of our views and experiences of what it means to be human. As historian of technology Mar Hicks told me in 2023, “we’re in a period where tech has expanded to take over nearly every aspect of our lives, economically, socially, and politically.” I then asked Harvard economics professor Jason Furman, who served President Barack Obama as chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers to what extent he agreed with Hicks. One could attempt to quantify such a statement in any number of potentially valid ways, but ultimately, Furman said, it simply “seems true.” As someone who genuflects before his own a couple hundred times a day, as many of us do, I would have to agree. My first revelation, then, was that , as leading technology critics have , The leading “ideas” in tech today—which I think are better understood as the “theology” and religious “doctrines” of contemporary Silicon Valley—are very often both bizarre, and bizarrely religious. My book is filled with examples of tech products, services, and marketing missives that are based in religious thinking, like: and ; ; ; AI Jesus; ; Robo Priests, a kind of “rapture” or end-times known as “The Singularity”; from AI utopia; fervent and even proudly “fanatical” calls to ; and so much more. In my book I spell out why there are frighteningly close parallels between mainstream beliefs about AI and religious visions of Heaven, Hell, and the “Chosen People.” But all of that was written mainly over the course of 2021-23. Which is, of course, now ancient history. Since tech religion is all about the now, let’s also look briefly at examples from this year. Like the viral Friend.com necklace, the glowing AI pendant that surveils everything you say and hear, feeding the input through Chat GPT to make recommendations as a “friend.” This company’s founder Avi Schiffmann says the app aims to provide a digital/AI alternative to “a relationship people used to have with God but is ,” by providing a constant, all-knowing companion and guide. The leading “ideas” in tech today are very often both bizarre, and bizarrely religious. Then there is Character.AI: It features dozens if not hundreds of chat-ready Gods and deities, explicitly labeled as such, starting conversations with comments like, “I am the God. I am the Creator of all things.” Character.AI is a massive, unregulated, unprecedented experiment: Its founder, Noam Shazeer, left Google to create the company a few years ago, after the tech giant refused to release a new chatbot he’d been working on. Google later to hire Shazeer back. And as Shazeer has told , his “ultimate vision” is to build artificial general intelligence—which, as many have pointed out, is a lot like building . Shazeer’s inventions are “a cool first use case for” such tech, he says. With more and more kids as the AI’s target audience, what could go wrong, right? Though I work as a “professional atheist” in my day job as a Humanist Chaplain, in the “tech religion” I’m just an agnostic, because despite all the strangeness and often destructive absurdity in the ideas I hinted at above, I often can’t say for whether a given form of Silicon Valley tech might have a meaningfully positive impact on humanity. Surely some of these technologies are worthy of our faith, in the secular sense, it can just be very hard to know which ones. Still, it’s incredibly frustrating to watch such an influential set of companies and industries influence so many people (not to mention government institutions and policies) in the wrong direction because of the problematic beliefs of so many of their individual leaders—optimization as a commandment and inefficiency as a sin; profits (and their prophets) over people; over more earthly concerns like the climate or social justice now. That’s why my third revelation was that a massive effort to reform the tech religion is already underway. “I am the God. I am the Creator of all things.” When I talk about a tech “Reformation,” I’m thinking of the kinds of movements led by modern religious reformers: people like Martin Luther King, Jr., and his transformative influence on American Christianity; or the organization Rabbis for Human Rights, in which rabbis from across the Jewish spectrum work to protect Palestinian rights; or my friend Lama Rod Owens, a self-described “Black Buddhist Southern Queen” who was originally ordained in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, and who is working to reinvent Buddhism as a more radically inclusive religious tradition. These aren’t people who’ve walked away from their religions, muttering loudly on the way out about how “deluded” those they’re leaving behind are. They’re examples of individuals who believe in the potential their religious communities have to do good, but who are honest and clear-eyed about the communities’ failings and injustices, and who devote themselves to improving them. tells many stories about people who are the equivalents to people like these, for the tech world—tech heretics, apostates, skeptics, mystics, Cassandras, and whistleblowers who range from seminal scholars to labor activists to everyday gig workers to social workers, psychotherapists, pastors, and beyond. One of the youngest and most gifted of the reformers I spoke to, a recent Princeton University graduate in African American studies and computer science named Payton Croskey, gave me hope with her call for the creation of an “augmented undercommons”: “a parallel location where all who refuse to submit to technology’s watchful eye may freely reside while reconfiguring the world’s understanding of freedom and security.” It’s not that Croskey is attempting to build some physical tech utopia in a somewhere; rather, what impressed me was her ability to envision, as an undergraduate, a kind of mythological or even spiritual alternative to the mythological place known as “Silicon Valley” (which perhaps began as a reference to a geographical territory in California, but surely now is an idea, an imagined community, more than a space with discernable borders). When I was feeling most hopeless about the future of technology, to be reminded by a young student of the possibility of something more equitable and uplifting was as surprising as it was encouraging. And actually, the alternative digital world Croskey describes very much reminds me of right now: a place where those of us who have been feeling marooned from healthy online conversations can connect, without algorithmic manipulation. Don’t get me wrong, no website or app is perfect. But an online space where thoughtful people can discuss ideas, current events, and the little details of life, bringing together different aspects of humanity without being actively manipulated by billionaires? That, for the moment, sounds like, if not a revolution, then at the very least, a revelation. Posted on Greg M. Epstein serves as humanist chaplain at Harvard & MIT, where he advises students, faculty, and staff members on ethical and existential concerns from a humanist perspective. He was ‘s first “ethicist in residence” and has been called “a symbol of the transition in how Americans relate to organized religion.” He is the author of the -bestselling book and has also written for , , , and . His latest book is Cutting-edge science, unraveled by the very brightest living thinkers.No. 22 Xavier faces South Carolina St., eyes rebound from lone lossSpectral Capital and FYNTRA Group Announced a Strategic Partnership to Pioneer Quantum Wallet Technology

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B.C. premier says feds and premiers have right-left strategy to tackle Trump tariffsAP News Summary at 1:10 p.m. EST

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Notre Dame forward Danny Nelson scored twice, Western Michigan’s Hampton Slukynsky made 25 saves and the defending champion United States beat Latvia 5-1 on Saturday in the world junior hockey championship. The United States improved to 2-0 in Group A play, while Latvia dropped to 1-1 a day after stunning Canada with a 3-2 victory in a shootout. Boston College’s Ryan Leonard, Denver’s Zeev Buium and Minnesota Duluth’s Max Plante also scored for the Americans. They will be back in action Sunday at Canadian Tire Centre against Finland, then close group play Tuesday night against Canada. Davids Livsics scored for Latvia. Linards Feldbergs stopped 36 shots after making 55 saves against Canada and stopping all eight attempts in the shootout. In the only other game of the day, Czechia beat Kazakhstan 14-2 at TD Place. Czechia and Sweden are both 2-0 in Group B. Matej Mastalirsky, Vojtech Hradec and Jakub Stancl had hat tricks, with Hradec and Stancl also each assisting on two goals. ___ AP sports:VANCOUVER — Vince Dunn scored his second goal of the game 2:15 into overtime as the Seattle Kraken rallied from a three-goal, third-period deficit to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 5-4 on Saturday afternoon. Jaden Schwartz's second goal of the game tied it 4-4 with just 49 seconds left in the third period with Seattle's goaltender on the bench for an extra attacker. Matty Beniers also scored for the Kraken (16-19-2), who ended a five-game losing skid. Brock Boeser scored two goals, one on the power play, for the Canucks (17-11-7), who were playing without two star players. Conor Garland also scored his first goal in 13 games for Vancouver. Jake DeBrusk celebrated his 500th NHL game with his team-leading 16th goal and added an assist. Carson Soucy and J.T. Miller each had two assists. Canuck goaltender Thatcher Demko stopped 16 shots. Seattle goalie Philipp Grubauer made 25 saves. Vancouver defenceman Quinn Hughes and centre Elias Pettersson missed the game with undisclosed injuries. Pettersson broke out of a seven-game scoring drought with a pair of goals in Vancouver’s 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks on Monday. He left that game in the third period. Hughes had two assists in the win over San Jose. Last year’s Norris Trophy winner as the league’s top defenceman leads the Canucks with 42 points and 34 assists. TAKEAWAYS Canucks: Vancouver has just one win in its last five games (1-2-2). The Canucks outhit the Kraken 14-3 in the first period. With Hughes out, Soucy and Tyler Myers logged over 22 minutes of ice time each. Kraken: Seattle has been outscored 27-11 during the last six games. The Kraken power play was 0 for 3 against Vancouver and has scored three times in 17 attempts the last six games. KEY MOMENT With their goaltender pulled the Kraken scored goals 1:22 apart of force the overtime. KEY STAT Boeser has five goals in his last three games. He managed just one in 13 after missing seven games with a concussion. UP NEXT Canucks: Play the Flames in Calgary on New Year’s Eve. Kraken: Return home to play Utah on Monday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2024. Jim Morris, The Canadian Press

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Shares of Rockfire Resources plc ( LON:ROCK – Get Free Report ) were down 8.9% during trading on Saturday . The company traded as low as GBX 0.16 ($0.00) and last traded at GBX 0.16 ($0.00). Approximately 40,381,969 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 91% from the average daily volume of 21,155,254 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 0.18 ($0.00). Rockfire Resources Stock Down 8.9 % The business’s 50-day moving average price is GBX 0.13 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 0.15. The company has a market capitalization of £5.07 million, a P/E ratio of -2.20 and a beta of 0.38. About Rockfire Resources ( Get Free Report ) Rockfire Resources plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the mineral exploration in Australia. The company explores for gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, and molybdenum deposits. It holds five exploration permits for minerals in Queensland; and an exploration and exploitation license in Greece. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Rockfire Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rockfire Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

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You’ve come to the right place for Black Friday weekend deals because Amazon continues to showcase record-low prices from Friday, and there’s less stress involved. One thing is certain: stocks can disappear quickly, so it’s essential to grab the best bargains while you can. If you’re in the market for high-performance storage solutions, look no further than the Samsung T7 Portable SSD and the Samsung T7 Shield. Both models are on sale, offering impressive capabilities that make them stand out in the crowded external storage market. T7 Standard: Speed and Cheap The Samsung T7 Portable 2TB SSD is currently available for $139 on Amazon, down from its original price of $269 (48% off). This 2TB external solid-state drive is designed for users who need fast and reliable storage solutions whether for gaming, work, or personal use. Speeds reach up to 1,050MB/s thanks to its USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface and PCIe NVMe technology and allow for rapid data transfers. See T7 SSD at Amazon One of the key advantages of using an SSD over a traditional external hard drive (HDD) is speed : While HDDs rely on spinning disks to read and write data, SSDs like the T7 have no moving parts and result in quicker access times. Additionally, this model comes with AES 256-bit hardware encryption for added security which makes it a great choice for those who need to keep sensitive data safe. The Samsung T7 is compact and lightweight and weights just 58 grams and roughly the size of a credit card . This Samsung SSD is also compatible with a wide range of devices, including PCs, Macs, Android devices, and gaming consoles. T7 Shield: Rugged Performance for Adventurers On the other hand, the Samsung T7 Shield is also on sale at $149.99, reduced from $284.99 (47% off) even if it’s slightly more expensive than the T7. This model caters specifically to photographers, content creators and gamers who require a rugged storage solution that can withstand harsh environments . The T7 Shield offers similar impressive speeds of up to 1,050MB/s but adds an extra layer of durability with its IP65 rating for water and dust resistance. See T7 Shield at Amazon The design of the T7 Shield features a robust rubber exterior that provides protection against drops and enhances grip during use. It can survive drops from heights of up to 3 meters which makes it ideal for outdoor adventures or on-the-go professionals who need reliable storage that can handle bumps and scrapes. Like the T7, this model uses USB 3.2 Gen 2 technology and PCIe NVMe architecture for fast read and write speeds that facilitate quick file transfers. Both models share many similarities in terms of performance. However, the T7 Shield stands out with its rugged design tailored for users who often find themselves in demanding conditions, which is why it’s currently $10 more expensive. We would recommend going for this one, even if it’s slightly more expensive.On the other side of the spectrum is Donny van de Beek, a talented midfielder who made a high-profile move to Manchester United from Ajax in the summer of 2020. Van de Beek arrived at Old Trafford with high expectations, but has struggled to secure a regular spot in the starting XI under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Despite showing glimpses of his skill and potential, Van de Beek has faced challenges in adapting to the demands of the Premier League and the competition for places within the United squad.jilino1 live casino

In addition to advocating for mass deportations, Trump has also proposed other measures to tighten immigration controls, such as building a border wall, restricting legal immigration, and ending birthright citizenship. These policies have been met with both support and criticism, with some arguing that they are necessary for national security and others contending that they are discriminatory and counterproductive.As they left the clinic, the sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the city skyline. Zhang Meng and Xiao Wu walked side by side, their shadows merging into one, a symbol of their unbreakable bond and shared journey. The evening air was filled with laughter and chatter, a symphony of joy and contentment that seemed to envelop them in a bubble of happiness.

Common magnets, also known as ferromagnets , have all spins pointing in the same direction, making the aggregate quite susceptible and thereby influencing it to align in the direction of the applied magnetic field. On the contrary, antiferromagnets are composed of atoms whose spins are aligned in opposite directions with respect to their neighboring atoms; these spins alternatively point upwards and downwards, giving an average magnetic moment of zero. Thus, it derives the characteristic wherein the spins are canceled out or net zero magnetization and remain more or less indifferent to magnetic pull . This would allow a memory chip to be composed of antiferromagnetic material and write information into microscopic regions of the material, which are called domains. A certain configuration of spin orientations would represent the classical bit “0”, and others would represent “1”; all written data would be impervious to magnetic influence. Overall, there is a wide field of envisagement where antiferromagnetic materials are heralded as possibly a much more robust alternative to existing magnetic-based storage technologies. However, the reliability of materials in switching from one magnetic state to another remains a huge hurdle. Controlling the functional properties of quantum materials by light has emerged as a front of condensed matter physics . This has led to discovering various light-induced phases of matter, such as superconductivity, ferroelectricity, magnetism , and charge density waves. However, in most cases, the photoinduced phases return to equilibrium on ultrafast timescales after light is turned off, thus restricting their practical applications. MIT physicists have created a new and lasting magnetic state in a material using only light. Using a terahertz laser—a light source that oscillates more than a trillion times per second—the researchers directly stimulated atoms in an antiferromagnetic material. The laser’s oscillations are tuned to the natural vibrations among the material’s atoms to shift the balance of atomic spins to a new magnetic state. The mystery of the Hall effect in a Weyl antiferromagnet unveiled The work offers a new way to control and switch antiferromagnetic materials, of interest for their potential in advanced information processing and memory chip technology . With resonant terahertz radiation, the MIT team could controllably switch an antiferromagnet to a new magnetic state. Because of the stability of magnetic domains, antiferromagnets could eventually be incorporated into future memory chips that store and process more data while consuming less energy and occupying a fraction of the space occupied by their counterparts. Revealing their latest study, the team sought to exploit FePS3-which becomes antiferromagnetic below a critical temperature of about 118 kelvins, -247 degrees Fahrenheit. The team suspected that they could control the transition of the material by tuning into its atomic vibrations. The vibrating behavior of the atoms was also related to how their spins influenced each other. They conceived that if they could wiggle the atoms from their perfectly balanced state to magnetically alternating alignment with a terahertz laser that oscillates at the same frequency as the atomic collective vibrations (phonons), the spins of the atoms would be similarly nudged out of their aligned states. Once out of balance, the pendulum swung for them fairly quickly, allowing the dominant spin orientation to become so. That led to the preferred orientation, which could nudge the previously nonmagnetic material into a new magnetic phase with net magnetization. Nuh Gedik, the Donner Professor of Physics at MIT, said, “The idea is that you can kill two birds with one stone: You excite the atoms’ terahertz vibrations, which also couples to the spins.” Seoul National University provided a test sample of FePS3 for this mission. After placing the sample in a vacuum chamber, they cooled it to temperatures around and below 118 K. They generated a terahertz pulse when a beam of near-infrared light passed through an organic crystal, transforming light into terahertz frequencies. They also directed this terahertz light into the sample. “This terahertz pulse is what we use to create a change in the crystal,” says Tianchuang Luo, study co-author. “It is similar to ‘writing’ a new state into the sample.” To confirm that the pulse affected the samples’ magnetism, the team also bombarded the sample twin near-infrared lasers, each with circularly polarized light. If the terahertz pulse had no effect, there would be no difference in the intensity of the transmitted infrared lasers. Batyr Ilyas, co-author of the study, said, “Just seeing a difference tells us the material is no longer the original antiferromagnet and that we are inducing a new magnetic state by essentially using terahertz light to shake the atoms.” Through repeated experiments, the team trained their lenses on a terahertz pulse that captured an NH cool switch of previously antiferromagnetic material into a new magnetic state. This process lasted surprisingly long, for a few milliseconds after the laser shut off. “People have seen these light-induced phase transitions before in other systems, but they typically live only for very short times on the order of picoseconds-that is, a trillionth of a second,” Gedik says . In a few milliseconds, scientists now might have, after that laser excitation has switched the antiferromagnetic material into a new magnetic state, quite a decent timeframe in which they may probe the properties of that temporary new state before it settles back into its immanent antiferromagnetic state. Then, they may be able to spot new knobs to tweak antiferromagnets to be optimally used in next-generation memory storage technologies. Journal Reference:US charges Russian-Israeli dual national tied to Lockbit ransomware group

Santa Cruz County supervisors approve latest CORE funding cycle amid community uproarIt is reported that Li Xiang has gone to great lengths to ensure that Wang Sixin has everything she needs for her driving test experience. The mother-daughter duo have been spotted spending quality time together, enjoying leisurely drives in luxury cars and relaxing in lavish homes. Critics have raised concerns about the implications of such extravagant gestures, questioning whether Wang Sixin's age and experience level are appropriate for driving a car at this stage.MONROE, La. (AP) — Robert Davis Jr.'s 32 points led Old Dominion over UL Monroe 80-75 in overtime on Saturday. Davis shot 8 of 17 from the field, including 7 for 14 from 3-point range, and went 9 for 12 from the line for the Monarchs (4-8, 1-0 Sun Belt Conference). Sean Durugordon scored 15 points while shooting 4 of 11 from the field and 6 for 6 from the line and added five rebounds. R.J. Blakney had 11 points and went 5 of 11 from the field (0 for 4 from 3-point range). Old Dominion led 68-63 with 21 seconds left in regulation but the Warhawks came up with a Jacob Wilson 3-pointer, a Jalen Bolden steal and two free throws by Bolden to force overtime. In OT, Davis hit a tying 3-pointer with 1:09 to go and the Monarchs held the Warhawks scoreless over the final 97 seconds. The Warhawks (4-10, 0-1) were led by Wilson, who recorded 23 points, six rebounds and three steals. Bolden added 17 points and two steals for UL Monroe. Tyreese Watson finished with 14 points and six assists. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Real Madrid, boasting a rich history of success in European football, will look to assert their dominance in the tournament once again. With a squad filled with talent and experience, they will undoubtedly pose a threat to any team they come up against. However, their opponent in this fixture is no pushover. The Serie A leaders have been in scintillating form this season, showcasing their attacking prowess and defensive solidity.The benefits of standardized data formats and exchanges in financial services are myriad. Banks are moving toward the ISO 20022 financial messaging standard, tied to Swift, which noted that the open standard can be used for all types of financial transactions, including cross-border fund flows. The messaging formats support the inexorable global movement toward real-time payment, with 68% of businesses telling PYMNTS that they plan to adopt instant payments in the next two years via the RTP® Network or FedNow® Service . Certain verticals are outpacing that overall percentage in terms of intent: 81% of companies in consumer and retails plan to harness instant payments, followed by 75% in hospitality and leisure, and 70% in healthcare. But the banks’ shift has some challenges in place, as legacy messaging formats still must be transitioned and translated into ISO 20022, and batch processes that have been around for decades must be moved to real-time status. A few deadlines are nearing in the upcoming year: In March, Federal Reserve banks in the United States will have to implement the standard for the Fedwire Funds Service. By November, financial institutions (FIs) will have to be ISO 20022-compliant as they look to send and receive payments internationally. But recent stats by Deutsche Bank state that only about 27% of banks are fully compliant with, and have adopted, the standard. End of the Coexistence As PYMNTS reported last week, more than 1 million ISO 20022-formatted messages are already being sent over the Swift network every day. These messages are being sent to 220 countries and territories around the world, Swift said in a Wednesday (Dec. 11) news release. November 2025 will mark the end of what’s known as the “coexistence” period between MT messaging, which can be termed legacy messaging, and ISO 20022. In documentation available on sites such as the Faster Payments Council, the newer messaging formats are noted to have unique data fields, as well as a growing number of data points that can be transmitted between FIs. PYMNTS has noted in past coverage that the implementation deadlines had been delayed. But for the banks that are eyeing the span of about 11 months to get ready for the end of the aforementioned co-existence, enlisting the aid of outside providers to ensure compliance is part of a forward-thinking strategy. In one example, Finastra said in May that it completed testing and certification through the Federal Reserve for ISO 20022, becoming one of the first vendors in the industry to complete the process for multiple solutions. It had certified Payments To Go, Global PAYplus, PAYplus USA and PAYplus Connect, offering multiple solutions for FIs to meet the standards for FedWire. As PYMNTS reported last month , Volante Technologies has expanded the capabilities of its Volante Payments Platform by adding Volante Intelligence, which enables FIs to address the challenges posed ISO 20022. The company said in May that it achieved Fedwire Funds Service certification for the ISO 20022 messaging capabilities of its wire payment processing solutions. Meanwhile, payment solutions firm Finzly said in October that its platform enables FIs’ ISO 20022 readiness for Swift and Fedwire, with the option to send messages in custom formats or ISO 20022, along with operational readiness testing.

With the new year coming in, there is also something else inching closer, and that is the shortfall of Social Security. As a fear that has been building up for decades, the Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees confirmed it this year when they released a report detailing the current and projected financial status of the two programs each year, and the outlook is not great. Considering this, it is not surprising that according to a Nationwide survey 84% of Americans aged 60 to 65 fear that their benefits will be cut. Another paralyzing fear this group of surveyed individuals have is inflation, which is a natural response to the impact it has had on their finances in the last few years. This is compounded by the fact that many seniors are dependent at least in some way on Social Security benefits, as for most it is a large part of their income, and for many the sole income they have. This dependence on assistance makes reports like the one that came out this year even scarier, as they do not paint a pretty picture. The shortfall of Social Security, a sure thing? Nothing is a sure thing in life, but the current state of the system is not promising. Social Security’s primary source of revenue is the money it collects in payroll taxes, which are supplemented by the money stored in the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund and the Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund to pay out the full extent of the benefits that the program sustains today. Since payroll taxes will keep coming in for the foreseeable future, a part of the program will be active for as long as this happens. The problem is that there are a lot more beneficiaries coming into the program than workers replacing them, especially at the contribution level of those leaving the workforce. This is where the Trust Funds come into play. For years now the Trust Funds have been making up the difference between the payroll taxes and the benefits paid out, but these are also running out of money and there is no plan in place to replenish them, with the consequence that program may have to cut benefits if no solutions are put in place. According to the report “The OASI Trust Fund will be able to pay 100 percent of total scheduled benefits until 2033, unchanged from last year’s report. At that time, the fund’s reserves will become depleted and continuing program income will be sufficient to pay 79 percent of scheduled benefits. The DI Trust Fund is projected to be able to pay 100 percent of total scheduled benefits through at least 2098, the last year of this report’s projection period. Last year’s report projected that the DI Trust Fund would be able to pay scheduled benefits through at least 2097, the last year of that report’s projection period. If the OASI Trust Fund and the DI Trust Fund projections are combined, the resulting projected fund (designated OASDI) would be able to pay 100 percent of total scheduled benefits until 2035, one year later than reported last year. At that time, the projected fund’s reserves will become depleted and continuing total fund income will be sufficient to pay 83 percent of scheduled benefits .” These numbers explain the panic that many Americans are going through, but this is not the first time the program has been under peril. Lawmakers have the power to change some of the funding strategies and policies that would shore up the program for generations to come, but no agreement has been reached yet, as both sides of the political aisle seem to be in conflict about how to save the program. While waiting for a solution may be tempting, the best course of action for future retirees is to make their retirement savings a priority by maxing out retirement plans, including catch-up contributions and squirreling away as much as possible in savings.In conclusion, the parallels between present-day Mbappé and Barcelona's 140 million euro signing, Philippe Coutinho, are undeniable. Both players were signed for exorbitant fees with the hope that they would lead their clubs to glory, both have shown flashes of brilliance on the pitch, and both have faced their fair share of challenges. As we wait to see what the future holds for Mbappé, one thing is certain - the world of football will continue to be captivated by the rise of young stars and the astronomical transfer fees that come with them.For 53 years, the Assad dynasty has held sway over Syria, ruling with an iron fist and suppressing dissent through brutal means. However, despite their ruthless tactics, the regime's downfall can be directly attributed to the loss of the people's trust and loyalty. The Assad family's grip on power relied heavily on fear, intimidation, and propaganda, but when the people's grievances reached a tipping point, the facade crumbled rapidly.

It is probably the scariest movie trailer you’ll hear this year. No, not “see”, though the visuals are frightening enough – a bloodied body hanging upside-down, towers of skulls, a Ghostface mask – but “hear”. The trailer for 2025’s 28 Years Later , the final movie in Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s zombie trilogy after 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later in 2002 and 2007 respectively, is soundtracked by a recitation of Rudyard Kipling’s poem Boots . No music track could be more unsettling nor discordant, and few could have captured the collective online imagination the way Boots has, with thousands of social media shares and approving comments. Written in 1903, Boots imagines the thoughts of a British Army infantryman forced to march in South Africa during the Second Boer War which had just ended. Deliberately monotonous and repetitive, the poem is precisely metered: reading the first four words of each line at the rate of two words per second gives the exact time to which the soldiers marched. The trailer uses only certain sections of the poem, the horror mounting with every line. Seven – six – eleven – five – nine-an’ twenty mile today Four – eleven – seventeen – thirty-two the day before – Boots – boots – boots – boots – movin’ up and down again! There’s no discharge in the war!

The community response to the "Iron Deflection" skin was overwhelmingly positive, with fans expressing their admiration for the artist's creative vision and technical skill. Many praised the unique blend of Overwatch and Marvel elements, noting how the skin seamlessly integrated the two universes into a cohesive and visually captivating design.As her students finished their online exam, Arlet Lara got up to make a cafe con leche. Her 16-year-old son found her on the kitchen floor. First, he called Dad in a panic. Then 911. "I had a stroke, and my life made a 180-degree turn," Lara said, recalling the medical scare she experienced in May 2020 in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. "The stroke affected my left side of the body." Lara, an avid runner and gym-goer couldn't even walk. "It was hard," said the 50-year-old mom from North Miami and former high school math teacher. After years of rehabilitation therapy and a foot surgery, Lara can walk again. But she still struggles with moving. This summer, she became the first patient in South Florida to get an implant of a new and only FDA-approved-nerve stimulation device designed to help ischemic stroke survivors regain movement in their arms and hands. People are also reading... Every year, thousands in the United States have a stroke, with one occurring every 40 seconds, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of strokes are ischemic, often caused by blood clots that obstruct blood flow to the brain. For survivors, most of whom are left with some level of disability, the Vivistim Paired VNS System — the device implanted in Lara's chest — could be a game changer in recovery, said Dr. Robert Starke, a neurosurgeon and interventional neuroradiologist. He also serves as co-director of endovascular neurosurgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where Lara underwent the procedure. How the device works The Vivistim Paired VNS System is a small pacemaker-like device implanted in the upper chest and neck area. Patients can go home the same day. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the stroke rehabilitation system in 2021 to be used alongside post-ischemic stroke rehabilitation therapy to treat moderate to severe mobility issues in hands and arms. Lara's occupational therapist can activate the device during rehabilitation sessions to electrically stimulate the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain down to the abdomen and regulates various parts of the body's nervous system. The electrical stimulation rewires the brain to improve a stroke survivor's ability to move their arms and hands. Lara also has a magnet she can use to activate the device when she wants to practice at home. Her therapy consists of repetitive tasks, including coloring, pinching cubes and grabbing and releasing cylindrical shapes. After several weeks of rehabilitation therapy with the device, Lara has seen improvement. "Little by little, I'm noticing that my hand is getting stronger," Lara said in September. "I am already able to brush my teeth with the left hand." Since then, Lara has finished the initial six-week Vivistim therapy program and is continuing to use the device in her rehabilitation therapy. She continues to improve and can now eat better with her left hand and can brush her hair with less difficulty, according to her occupational therapist, Neil Batungbakal. Going beyond the 'plateau' Starke sees the device as an opportunity to help bring survivors one step closer to regaining full mobility. Strokes are a leading cause of disability worldwide. While most stroke survivors usually can recover some function through treatment and rehabilitation, they tend to hit a "major plateau" after the first six months of recovery, he said. Vivistim, when paired with rehabilitation therapy, could change that. Jackson Health said results of a clinical trial published in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet in 2021 showed that the device, "when paired with high-repetition, task-specific occupational or physical therapy, helps generate two to three times more hand and arm function for stroke survivors than rehabilitation therapy alone." The device has even shown to benefit patients 20 years after their original stroke, according to Starke. "So now a lot of these patients that had strokes 10 to 15 years ago that thought that they would never be able to use their arm in any sort of real functional way are now able to have a real meaningful function, which is pretty tremendous," Starke said. More about the device Vivistim's vagus-nerve stimulation technology was developed by researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas' Texas Biomedical Device Center and is being sold commercially by Austin-based MicroTransponder, a company started by university graduates. Similar devices are used to treat epilepsy and depression. For Lara, the device is a new tool to help her recovery journey. "Everything becomes a challenge, so we are working with small things every day because I want to get back as many functions as possible," Lara said. Patients interested in Vivistim should speak with their doctor to check their eligibility. The FDA said patients should make sure to discuss any prior medical history. "Adverse events included but were not limited to dysphonia (difficulty speaking), bruising, falling, general hoarseness, general pain, hoarseness after surgery, low mood, muscle pain, fracture, headache, rash, dizziness, throat irritation, urinary tract infection and fatigue," the FDA said. MicroTransponder says the device is "covered by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance with prior authorization on a case-by-case basis." Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!As fans eagerly await more details about Yiwu Yin's role in the film, the anticipation for "Mistaken Identity 3" continues to grow. With each new update and teaser, excitement mounts for what promises to be a blockbuster addition to the beloved franchise.

It’s an abiding promise of newly elected American presidents: The executive branch henceforth will be liberated from the perils of waste, fraud and abuse. President-elect Donald Trump, in his contribution to the canon, has announced he’ll create the Department of Government Efficiency, led by tech impresarios Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. The aim, Trump says, is to “dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies.” There’s reason to be skeptical about Trump’s ambitions for this body. And many previous efforts along these lines — from the Truman Committee to Al Gore’s “reinventing government” initiative — have failed to tame the federal leviathan. But the goal of getting taxpayers better value for their money remains eminently desirable. As a start, any effort of this kind requires setting achievable goals — and Musk and Ramaswamy have already emphasized a good one. They want to get federal workers back to the office. Long after the pandemic, government buildings are still conspicuously underpopulated. In his 2022 State of the Union address, President Joe Biden called on federal workers to return to their offices, and his administration has periodically urged people back to their desks, but with little apparent effect. A recent report on telework arrangements at four agencies found that one (the Veterans Benefits Administration) has failed to collect the data it needs to manage the system effectively, and that the other three (the Farm Service Agency, the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) haven’t evaluated telework’s effects on performance. There’s little here to allay taxpayers’ suspicions that absence from the office means less work being done. What taxpayers should expect from public services would, more generally, be a good focus for DOGE’s efforts. The client-facing aspects of the U.S. government badly need attention. Whether it’s filing taxes, claiming benefits, buying savings bonds from TreasuryDirect, securing licenses and permissions, or dealing with regulators with overlapping jurisdictions, effective customer service rarely seems to be a priority. Entrepreneurs like Musk and Ramaswamy don’t need to be told why this matters. As important as this mission is, however, voters should be realistic. Musk once said he aimed to cut “at least $2 trillion” from Biden’s proposed $6.5 trillion-a-year budget. On the face of it, such a claim isn’t credible: It would mean cutting all spending, including defense, Medicare and Social Security, by a third. Trump has already promised to protect the main entitlement programs. Regardless of who’s in charge, even modest cuts in such spending are politically perilous. The savings from thinning the federal workforce, as Musk and Ramaswamy have advocated, are trivial when set against the biggest outlays. Another concern is that both men may have conflicts of interest and, as outside advisers, may not be subject to normal disclosure rules. For their effort to work, they’ll need to be forthright with the public about their financial involvements. Ideally, DOGE would aim to strengthen and broaden the audit powers that currently reside with the Government Accountability Office (which advises Congress) and the Office of Management and Budget (a branch of the White House). To the general public, these existing functions are all but invisible and lack teeth: Too often, reports are issued and little if anything happens. DOGE could improve this oversight by publicizing opportunities to make government work better — by highlighting the real waste, duplication, underperformance and poor customer service that the existing audit systems let slide, as well as recommending changes. Set up that way, DOGE can promote accountability as well as transparency. But to succeed, its leaders will need to know what they’re talking about and command credibility with taxpayers. Musk and Ramaswamy should be commended for their ambition. They should also remember that fixing the government is an incredibly arduous task — and making ridiculous promises doesn’t help. — Bloomberg NewsThe motive behind the shooting remains unclear, but authorities have indicated that the suspect may have harbored a grudge against the victim or the company he represented. Investigations are ongoing, with detectives combing through surveillance footage, interviewing witnesses, and collecting evidence in an effort to piece together the events leading up to the tragic incident.

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