The Latest: Former President Jimmy Carter is dead at age 100In conclusion, FC Barcelona's VIP box pre-sales initiative is a testament to their ability to leverage their brand power to generate substantial revenue and support important initiatives such as registering the women's team in Almo C.F. This innovative approach not only highlights Barcelona's commitment to excellence but also sets a new standard for fundraising in the sports industry. As Barcelona continues to set the pace for innovation and success, the VIP box pre-sales initiative serves as a shining example of the club's dedication to excellence on and off the field.Title: "The Remarkable Journey of a Urinary Girl with Two Kidney Transplants: The Love of Parents Bestows Three Lives"Mechanized AI Announces Expansion of Executive Team With Appointment of Amy Green as COOhalloween slot game 。

Green is poised to help scale Mechanized AI's revolutionary technology and drive operational excellence as the company enters a phase of rapid growth. ATLANTA , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mechanized AI , a pioneer in the enterprise AI and application modernization space, proudly announces the designation of Amy Green as its new Chief Operating Officer. With over 15 years of industry experience, Green brings a wealth of expertise in operations, professional services and technology product marketing to the trailblazing enterprise AI and application transformation startup. Her appointment underscores Mechanized AI's commitment to combining groundbreaking technology with top-tier leadership to maintain its competitive edge in the marketplace. Based in Dallas , Green joins the team with an extensive background in operational management and strategic execution at Deloitte Consulting, where she built and grew the Product Engineering group within their Application Modernization & Innovation practice with Charles Wright , CEO of Mechanized AI. Prior to this, Green served on Deloitte's Global Strategy & Innovation team, where she advised teams across the global network on bringing technology products to market and driving scalable growth. A former Executive Search Consultant with Russell Reynolds Associates, Green has advised Fortune 100 clients on complex leadership challenges and recruited top executives to lead transformation at public and private organizations. Previously, Green also served as Strategic Engagement Director at AIG within the Office of the Chief Technology Officer. Green obtained her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and her MBA from UC San Diego's Rady School of Management. "Amy's deep expertise in managing world-class organizations will be critical to ensure we have the people, processes and technology in the right places to drive our operations forward," says Wright. "Her mastery of leading companies through transformation journeys and category creations will be invaluable as we roll out new products and strengthen our collaboration with strategic partners. Amy has already hit the ground running as COO and she will be a crucial asset in building a client-centric business as we position ourselves for sustainable growth." As COO, Green will oversee delivery and customer success, human resources, operations and marketing—key areas vital to Mechanized AI's ongoing success and ambitious growth objectives. She joins a veteran team of startup and consulting executives, including Aditya Muralidhar (Chief AI Officer), Matias Kreder (CTO), Ian Easton (CCO) and recently, Jenny Allen (CMO). "I'm honored to join Mechanized AI as COO and to collaborate with such a talented, passionate team in the rapidly evolving AI space," Green remarked. "Having had the privilege of working with Charles in the past, I'm confident in his ability to drive the company's vision and direction. Mechanized AI is uniquely positioned for growth and innovation, so I'm excited to help scale the organization and deliver impactful solutions that drive transformation for our clients." Launched in 2023, Mechanized AI has grown its team of experts by over 50 percent in 2024 and has locations throughout the U.S. and South America . Green's appointment comes at a pivotal moment as Mechanized AI expands its global operations and scales its enterprise AI and application modernization solutions across industries. About Mechanized AI: Mechanized AI was launched in 2023 to help companies unlock the power of enterprise AI and accelerate their application modernization journeys. Built and backed by a team with over four decades of combined AI/ML experience, the product suite enables end-to-end AI development and deployment and transforms traditional modernization workflows by automating complex, manual processes. The AI Factory platform is a turnkey solution to build Fortune 500-quality production AI for both enterprise and mid-market businesses. The mAI Modernize suite of products provides AI-powered code modernization for any tech stack, empowering clients to understand and modernize legacy code in hours versus months. For more information, set up a demo at Mechanized.ai , follow us on LinkedIn and X , and view open positions on our Careers page . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mechanized-ai-announces-expansion-of-executive-team-with-appointment-of-amy-green-as-coo-302330807.html SOURCE Mechanized AICINCINNATI, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ultimus ® , a leading independent provider of full-service, technology-enhanced fund administration, accounting, middle office, and investor solutions is proud to announce that it has received multiple prestigious awards at the 2024 Global Custodian Industry Leaders Awards dinner recently held in New York. The awards ceremony independently recognizes the achievements of service providers in the fund administration industry whose quality of services exceeds their peers. This year Ultimus received three awards in two different categories: Exchange Traded Funds and Private Equity Funds. Ultimus secured three distinguished awards: Ultimus CEO, Gary Tenkman , says, "At Ultimus, our unwavering dedication to quality service has earned us esteemed recognition year after year. For us, excellence isn't just a passing trend or a short-term strategy; it's the cornerstone of our culture. Our continuous growth allows us to invest in talent and technology, acknowledging the value of providing our clients with award-winning service and customizable solutions to help them succeed in the evolving investment management industry.” In appreciation for all Ultimus associates, Tenkman adds, "I'm incredibly proud of our team's dedication to delivering top-notch services that support our clients. Our mission is to provide award-winning services and outsourced solutions that optimize and elevate business operations for our clients, all while benefiting their investors and shareholders.” This is the third year in a row Ultimus ranked as the top administrator in the ETF Administration Survey and received the ETF Administrator of the Year award. Additionally, this is the fourth year Ultimus LeverPoint private equity clients participated in the independently administered survey and the fourth year the firm has received the Private Equity Fund Administrator of the Year award. Ultimus excelled beyond industry averages across all relevant fund servicing categories in the two industry surveys. This achievement strongly affirms clients' approval of the firm's client-focused service model and unwavering dedication to excellence. Notable takeaways from the 2024 survey results included: About Ultimus Ultimus Fund Solutions (Ultimus) is a leading provider of full-service tech-enhanced fund administration, accounting, middle office, and investor solutions to support the launching and servicing of registered funds, private funds, and public plans. The company also offers customized structures designed for the unique needs of pensions, endowments, foundations, and other large institutions. Ultimus' deep commitment to excellence is achieved through investments in best-in-class technology, compliance programs, organization-wide cyber security efforts, and hiring seasoned professionals. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio with offices in other major cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Denver, and Omaha, Ultimus employs more than 1,000 seasoned accountants, attorneys, paralegals, application developers, fund administrators, compliance specialists, and many others with years of experience in the financial services industry. Servicing over 1,800 total traditional and alternative funds, Ultimus helps investment managers and fund families flourish in today's increasingly sophisticated and dynamic investment landscape. For more information, visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com . About Ultimus LeverPoint Ultimus LeverPoint Private Fund Solutions is a leading fund administrator committed to providing a complete spectrum of solutions to private equity, venture capital, real estate, and hedge fund clients. Providing accounting and fund administration solutions to nearly 220 firms and more than $235B in AUA, Ultimus LeverPoint represents a diverse range of alternative fund types and structures. Whether outsourcing a new fund or transitioning existing funds, Ultimus LeverPoint serves as a seamless extension of your firm - a partner in growth. From traditional to complex structures, our team of over 450 associates provides operational excellence to meet every need and is dedicated to helping investment managers keep pace with the constantly changing regulatory and market demands while providing quick solutions to new challenges. For more information, visit www.ultimusleverpoint.com . CONTACT: [email protected] COD00000653 12/10/2024

To gain perspective on what may lie ahead for Bashar al-Assad, it is worth looking at the fates of other former leaders who have sought refuge in foreign countries. History is rife with examples of exiled dictators, presidents, and rulers who have met different fates in their host countries.

SET predicts more Chinese, US interestSEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks were struggling a week ago, coming off their bye having lost five of their last six games. That included a gut-punch overtime defeat at home against the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 3. The outlook for the last-place Seahawks (5-5) was beginning to look grim. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

The best touchless trash cans for modern, mess-free livingThe decision to remove the throwing Pokeball summoning mechanism has sparked heated debates within the game's community. Some players believe that the update is a step in the right direction, as it adds a new layer of strategy and depth to the gameplay. They argue that the new summoning system encourages players to think more strategically about which creatures to summon and when to use them in battles.

The Home-Based Battery Storage Fantasy

What kind of smart watch band material is not to be missed by manufacturers: Soft skin-friendly comfort material for wearables 12-11-2024 09:06 PM CET | Associations & Organizations Press release from: ABNewswire Wristbands are an important component of smartwatches and bracelets. As the wristband is in direct contact with the wrist, the surface feel of the material and its biocompatibility with the skin (no skin sensitisation, etc.) are all aspects to be considered. In addition, the surface texture, style and colour of the wristband design can highlight the personality and grade of the smart bracelet. Therefore, the choice of materials for smart watches and bracelets is very important, so what is the best smart bracelet material? 1. Soft PVC soft PVC feel soft, colourful, and low price, should be said to have many advantages. However, PVC contains halogens, and alcoholic beverage plasticiser events always make people associate PVC with toxic plasticisers (phthalates). Although there are relatively more environmentally friendly PVC, but PVC material has a large smell, for safety and health considerations, the smart bracelet market basically do not consider the use of this material. 2. Silicone Silicone is the top environmentally friendly material. Silicone has excellent elasticity, smooth touch, and is a material that makes consumers feel completely at ease. The processing method is oil pressure moulding, and the material cannot be recycled. The cost is not cheap. 3. TPU TPU material has excellent elasticity, can be injection moulded bonded with another hard plastic PC of the bracelet. The cost is also relatively cheap, the material can be recycled. The disadvantage is that the soft touch is not ideal. For hardness selection, usually above 70A, softer hardness TPU, the required material cost is very high. The introduction of Si-TPV Elastomeric Materials [ https://www.si-tpv.com/3c-technology-material-for-improved-safety-aesthetics-and-comfort-product/ ] has revolutionised the design and function of watch bands. Unlike traditional materials, Si-TPV Elastomeric Materials is a Soft elastic material/ Soft skin-friendly comfort material for wearables [ https://www.si-tpv.com/3c-technology-material-for-improved-safety-aesthetics-and-comfort-product/]/ Sustainable Elastomeric Materials/ Non-tacky Thermoplastic Elastomers/ Plasticizer-free thermoplastic elastomer with Innovative Soft Slip Technology produced through special compatibility technology and dynamic vulcanisation. Si-TPV elastomers offer unique high performance, durability, comfort, stain resistance, safety and aesthetics that are ideal for wearable device design, with a long-lasting, ultra-smooth, skin-friendly feel that is superior to silicone, and is biocompatible and non-irritating and non-sensitising in contact with the skin. Image: https://www.si-tpv.com/uploads/129-300x225.jpg Key benefits of Si-TPV elastomers for watch bands: 1. Optimized Durability: Si-TPV addresses the common weakness of traditional silicone gel materials by offering enhanced resistance to vacuuming, aging, and breakage, ensuring long-lasting durability. 2. Superior Soft Touch Feel: The surface of Si-TPV boasts a unique silky and skin-friendly touch, providing unparalleled comfort for wearers. 3. Improved Abrasion and Scratch Resistance: Si-TPV's superior abrasion and scratch resistance ensure that watch bands retain their pristine appearance, even after prolonged use. 4. Multi-colour matching: Si-TPV can be easily colour-matched with high colour saturation to meet various design preferences, providing unlimited possibilities for customization. 5. No harmful chemicals: Si-TPV does not contain plasticisers or softening oils, featuring zero DMF, environmentally friendly and safe, and eliminating the risk of precipitation or stickiness. 6. No odour, skin-accessible, no risk of sensitisation, ensuring a comfortable wearing experience. Smart watch and bracelet wristbands are available in a wide range of materials, if you want to provide consumers with quality wristbands that combine durability, comfort and aesthetics, SILIKE Si-TPV elastomers will be the optimal solution for you. Trust us, our innovative smart band material solutions will meet your needs, bring you more value and save you more time! Tel: +86-28-83625089 or via email: amy.wang@silike.cn Media Contact Company Name: Chengdu Silike Technology Co.,Ltd. Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=what-kind-of-smart-watch-band-material-is-not-to-be-missed-by-manufacturers-soft-skinfriendly-comfort-material-for-wearables ] Country: China Website: https://www.si-tpv.com/ This release was published on openPR.Moving forward, the school administration has pledged to provide detailed information about the materials used in the winter uniforms, as well as increased transparency regarding the sourcing and manufacturing processes. They have also promised to work closely with parents and students to address any lingering doubts or concerns and ensure that all students are comfortable and adequately protected during the winter months.The distribution of weekly wages among the top 30 earners in the Premier League showcases the financial disparities between the top clubs and the rest of the league. While clubs like Manchester City, Manchester United, and Arsenal can afford to pay top dollar for top talent, others like Tottenham Hotspur have to rely on shrewd management and scouting to compete at the highest level.Mahmoud is a cheeky teenager who beams the biggest of smiles even though he lost his front teeth in the rough and tumble of kids’ play. He is a Sudanese orphan abandoned twice, and displaced twice in his country’s grievous war - one of nearly five million Sudanese children who have lost almost everything as they are pushed from one place to the next in what is now the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Nowhere else on Earth are so many children on the run, so many people living with such acute hunger. Famine has already been declared in one area - many others subsist on the brink of starvation not knowing where their next meal will come from. "It’s an invisible crisis," emphasises the UN’s new humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher. "Twenty-five million Sudanese, more than half the country, need help now," he adds. In a time of all too many unprecedented crises, where devastating wars in places like Gaza and Ukraine dominate the world’s aid and attention, Mr Fletcher chose Sudan for his first field mission to highlight its plight. "This crisis is not invisible to the UN, to our humanitarians on the front line risking and losing their lives to help the Sudanese people," he told the BBC, as we travelled with him on his week-long trip. Most of the people on his team working on the ground are also Sudanese who have lost their homes, their old lives, in this brutal struggle for power between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Mr Fletcher's first field visit took him to Mahmoud’s Maygoma orphanage in Kassala in eastern Sudan, now home to nearly 100 children in a crumbling three-storey school-turned-shelter. They lived with their carers in the capital, Khartoum, until the army and RSF turned their guns on each other in April 2023, trapping the orphanage as they dragged their country into a vortex of horrific violence, systematic looting and shocking abuse. When fighting spread to the orphans’ new shelter in Wad Madani , in central Sudan, those who survived fled to Kassala. When I asked 13-year-old Mahmoud to make a wish, he immediately broke into a big gap-toothed grin. "I want to be a state governor so I can be in charge and rebuild destroyed homes," he replied. For 11 million Sudanese driven from one refuge to the next, returning to what is left of their homes and rebuilding their lives would be the biggest gift of all. For now, even finding food to survive is a daily battle. And for aid agencies, including the UN, getting it to them is a titanic task. After Mr Fletcher’s four days of high-level meetings in Port Sudan, army chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan announced on the X social media site that he had given the UN permission to establish more supply hubs and to use three more regional airports to deliver assistance. Some of the permissions had been granted before but some marked a step forward. The new announcement also came as the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) secured a green light to reach stricken communities behind lines controlled by the RSF, including the Zamzam camp in Darfur housing about half a million people where famine was recently confirmed . "We’ve been pushing for months to get to these communities," says Alex Marianelli, who heads WFP’s operations in Port Sudan. Behind us in a WFP warehouse, Sudanese labourers sing as they load trucks with boxes of food heading for the worst of the worst areas. Mr Marianelli reflects that he has never worked in such a difficult and dangerous environment. Within the aid community, some criticise the UN, saying that its hands have been tied by recognising Gen Burhan as the de facto ruler of Sudan. "Gen Burhan and his authorities control those checkpoints and the system of permits and access," Mr Fletcher says in response. "If we want to go into those areas we need to deal with them." He hopes the rival RSF will also put the people first. "I’ll go anywhere, talk to anyone, to get this aid through, and to save lives," Mr Fletcher adds. In Sudan’s merciless war, all warring parties have been accused of using starvation as a weapon of war. So too sexual violence, which the UN describes as "an epidemic" in Sudan. The UN visit coincided with the "16 days of activism" marked globally as a campaign to stop gender-based violence. In Port Sudan, the event in a displaced camp, the first to be set up when war flared, was especially poignant. "We have to do better, we must do better," vowed Mr Fletcher, who cast aside his prepared speech when he stood under a canopy facing rows of Sudanese women and children, clapping and ululating. I asked some of the women listening what they made of his visit. "We really need help but the major job should be from the Sudanese themselves," reflects Romissa, who works for a local aid group and recounts her own harrowing journey from Khartoum at the start of the war. "This is the time for the Sudanese people to stand together." The Sudanese have been trying to do a lot with a little. In a simple two-room shelter, a safe house called Shamaa, or "Candle", brings some light to the lives of abused single women and orphaned children. Its founder, Nour Hussein al-Sewaty, known as Mama Nour, also started life in the Maygoma orphanage. She also had to flee Khartoum to protect those in her care. One woman now sheltering with her was raped before the war, then abducted and raped again. Even the formidable Mama Nour is now at breaking-point. "We are so exhausted. We need help," she declares. "We want to smell the fresh air. We want to feel there are still people in the world who care about us, the people of Sudan." Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica , on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

New York City, known for its exorbitant living costs, surprisingly saw a decline in rental prices in 2024. The Covid-19 pandemic had a lasting impact on the city, as many residents opted for suburban or more affordable areas. Landlords had to adjust their prices to attract tenants, leading to a noticeable drop in rent rates across the metropolitan.

Football Offensive Player of the Year: Handley's Hassan AkanbiReal 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 early return to the European stage presents both a challenge and an opportunity for Real Madrid. It will require an immense amount of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice from every member of the team, as well as a willingness to push themselves to their limits and beyond. But it also offers a chance for redemption, a chance to prove their worth and show the world what they are truly capable of when they come together as a united front.

In addition to its technical prowess, NVIDIA's future AI accelerator also promises advancements in energy efficiency. By optimizing data transfer and memory access, the accelerator can deliver high-performance AI computation while minimizing power consumption. This is a crucial factor in today's increasingly energy-conscious world and will make AI applications more sustainable in the long run.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.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle , Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle. If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. What is Connections? The NYT 's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common. Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends. Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media. Here's a hint for today's Connections categories Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try: Here are today's Connections categories Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories: Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle. Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions. Drumroll, please! The solution to today's Connections #570 is... What is the answer to Connections today Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands . If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.Andersen 2-9 0-0 6, Janelle Brown 5-10 3-6 13, L'Amoreaux 6-14 4-4 19, Nicoletti Leite 6-8 0-0 13, Selimovic 5-5 1-2 13, Beach 1-1 2-2 4, Raiana Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Coe 1-1 0-0 2, McGruder 1-2 0-0 2, Totals 27-50 10-14 72 Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

ARLINGTON, Va. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA) announces three new members for 2025: Pilot Chemical Company , a privately held, family-owned global specialty chemical company with a 72-year legacy of innovation and customer focus, known for its ability to deliver tailored surfactant technologies and EPA-registered biocide solutions to consumer and industrial markets. Solugen , a manufacturer of innovative chemical solutions that tackle tough industrial challenges with speed, precision, and a focus on creating lasting impact for customers. Longview Strategies , an affiliate member specializing in sustainability/ESG consulting and communication services. "As the landscape evolves across manufacturing, sustainability, and global trade, companies are recognizing SOCMA's essential value," said Jennifer Abril , President & CEO of SOCMA. "These companies bring expertise in bio-manufacturing innovation, chemical manufacturing, and ESG leadership at a time when the industry needs strategic collaboration to thrive." Member Perspectives: "Pilot Chemical Company is grateful for the access SOCMA membership gives us to so many potential innovation and manufacturing partners," said Glynn Goertzen , VP of Corporate & Business Development at Pilot Chemical Company. "We continue to appreciate SOCMA's industry-leading advocacy efforts. SOCMA's strong voice on behalf of its members these past five years has been much appreciated." "We are excited to join SOCMA as we expand into fine and specialty chemicals and continue to grow our onshore manufacturing capabilities to deliver innovative solutions to our customers," said Gaurab Chakrabarti , MD, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder at Solugen. "SOCMA's resources, advocacy, and network will be invaluable as we strengthen our efforts to support critical industries like energy and defense. We look forward to collaborating with industry leaders to drive meaningful advancements in the specialty chemicals sector." "We know that SOCMA and its members share an intense curiosity about how their businesses can adapt to meet new trends," said Evan Zall , President of Longview Strategies. "That's a shared trait at Longview Strategies and among our clients as we work together to successfully navigate the ESG landscape. Whether keeping pace with global regulations or seeking to stand out as leaders in sustainability, there are outstanding opportunities for manufacturers to take charge of their future." SOCMA concluded 2024 with strong growth, welcoming 23 new members throughout the year. About SOCMA: SOCMA is the only U.S.-based trade association dedicated to the specialty chemicals industry. Visit https://www.socma.org . Contact: Nate Bell Sr. Manager, Member Communications & Programs nbell@socma.org View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/companies-increasingly-turn-to-socma-to-navigate-industry-challenges-in-2025-and-beyond-302329430.html SOURCE Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Many were left wondering about the journey that led to this moment of liberation. The man's time in detention was undoubtedly filled with challenges and trauma, as so many others in Syria have experienced. The conflict in Syria has resulted in countless individuals being unjustly imprisoned, their lives disrupted and their freedoms stripped away. The release of this man, and his subsequent outburst of joy, symbolized a glimmer of hope amidst the turmoil and despair that has engulfed the country.Additionally, the favorable interest rates and mortgage policies introduced by the government have further fueled the demand for both new and old houses in Beijing. These policies have made home ownership more accessible to a wider range of buyers, stimulating further activity in the real estate market.Meet the creator behind 'life-changing' autism app bridging the communication gap

TTM Technologies, Inc. Introduces Innovative Radio Frequency Components for Telecom Band n104 to Enhance 5.5G ApplicationsFans of thought-provoking puzzle games rejoice, as the critically acclaimed masterpiece "The Talos Principle" is set to make a grand return with a highly-anticipated remake. Developed by Croteam and originally released in 2014, "The Talos Principle" captivated players with its deep narrative, challenging puzzles, and philosophical themes. Now, with the announcement of the remake, players old and new can look forward to experiencing this captivating journey once again in a whole new light.

Samsung ordered to pay $118 million for infringing Netlist patentsMoulded Case Circuit Breakers: Key Features and ApplicationsAmerican actor John Stamos is thanking two Chilliwack drummers after he called on them to help him perfect a drum solo for a Beach Boys concert. Brandon Toews and Dylan Weightman of Chilliwack were down in Los Angeles collaborating with the famous actor and musician as he prepared for an upcoming performance. Stamos, lovingly known as Uncle Jesse from sitcom Full House, has been playing with the Beach Boys for 40 years. He said he wanted to rediscover his love of drumming and needed help with a new solo, so he contacted Drumeo, an Abbotsford-based music school where Toews is the content director and Weightman the vice president. But it wasn’t just a drum lesson, it was a video project as well. “Today we released one of the coolest videos we’ve ever worked on at Drumeo,” Toews wrote on social media on Nov. 29. “I’ve gotten to know John Stamos over the last year and after sending some videos back and forth, we decided it was time to work on a new video together.” Weightman and fellow Drumeo teammate Brandon Scott developed the video concept and brought it to life, Toews said. In Drumeo’s 25-minute YouTube video called ‘John Stamos learns a drum solo in 10 days,’ Toews is seen working with Stamos on the drums and breaking down what makes a great solo. Near the end of the video, Stamos pounds out a minute-long drum solo at the Beach Boys concert that Toews called a 10 out of 10. Stamos “crushed it,” Toews said. “This was an absolute dream project collaborating with John Stamos to tell the story of evolving his Beach Boys drum solo in tribute of (late Foo Fighters drummer) Taylor Hawkins," Weightman wrote on social media. Weightman called Stamos talented, generous and handsome. “It was cool just to work with John – the fact that he’s a wonderful human being was a total bonus,” Weightman said. Stamos returned the compliments “Back at ya, Dylan. Total pleasure. You’re extremely helpful and very talented good man. And I absolutely love the video.” At the end of the video, Stamos pulls Toews up on stage to play a few songs with the Beach Boys, which Toews was not expecting. "John's a beast, man. What an incredible solo and, as a teacher, how cool to see your student go up there and just destroy a drum solo like that," Toews said. "Well done, John. You're an animal."quick hit slot game 。

SAINT CHARLES, Mo. (AP) — Jaylon McDaniel's 22 points helped Lindenwood defeat IU Indianapolis 81-63 on Saturday night. McDaniel shot 9 of 12 from the field and 4 of 6 from the free-throw line for the Lions (5-6). Markeith Browning II scored 18 points while going 8 of 19 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and added seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Reggie Bass shot 3 for 6 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line to finish with 14 points, while adding seven rebounds and six assists. Paul Zilinskas finished with 18 points for the Jaguars (5-8). IU Indianapolis also got 13 points and two steals from Jarvis Walker. Alec Millender also recorded 11 points and five assists. NEXT UP Lindenwood's next game is Thursday against Tennessee Tech at home, and IU Indianapolis visits Florida International on Saturday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Blakley's 28 lead Le Moyne over SUNY Delhi 106-51Leo Daily Horoscope Today, December 27, 2024 predicts prosperity at your sideRavens now in AFC North driver's seat after 3 convincing wins

NoneGLASSBORO, New Jersey -- The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) at Rowan University's College of Engineering gives students a hands-on opportunity to build and compete with off-road vehicles. As juniors, students design the car and begin the building process. Then, they perfect it as seniors. At the South Jersey Technology Park, they can test drive it on an off-road course. Students also get the chance to travel with the car and compete against other clubs. To learn more, watch the video above and visit their website and Facebook page .

Improving bureaucratic efficiencyLong-term investors looking for a solid with and significant growth potential could consider ( ), as there are three good reasons why it is a must-buy. Over the last two decades, this financial services company has solidified its position as a leader in Canada’s subprime lending sector and delivered exceptional returns, consistently outperforming the benchmark index. goeasy offers tailored financial solutions for subprime borrowers. Its diverse portfolio includes unsecured and secured loans, lease-to-own services, and the increasingly popular buy-now-pay-later options. These offerings have been driving the company’s loan originations and overall revenue growth. Additionally, goeasy’s operating leverage has bolstered its profitability, enhancing its bottom line. goeasy’s financial performance has been solid in the last five years (as of September 30, 2024). goeasy achieved a revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.1% and an even more impressive 29% CAGR in adjusted earnings per share (EPS). This consistent growth reflects its robust business model and its ability to grow in all market conditions. Over the past decade, goeasy’s stock has skyrocketed by 894%, delivering a CAGR of 25.8%, far outpacing the broader benchmark index. Its ability to generate value for investors is further reflected in its increased dividend payments. With this background, let’s look at three compelling reasons to buy goeasy stock. Even though goeasy stock has appreciated quite a lot, it has significant room for growth, considering its strong financials. As a leading player in Canada’s subprime lending sector, goeasy is well-positioned to grow its market share and capitalize on the large, addressable market. Further, its extensive product portfolio, expanding geographic presence, omnichannel offerings, increasing funding capacity, and diversified funding sources provide a solid base for long-term growth. These factors will likely bolster goeasy’s loan portfolio and help generate double-digit revenue growth. goeasy is seeing solid momentum across its products and customer acquisition channels. Additionally, goeasy’s solid credit underwriting capabilities, stable credit performance, and operational efficiencies will likely drive its future earnings potential and support its share price. From a valuation standpoint, goeasy stock trades at an attractive ratio of 8.7 based on its next 12 months’ earnings. This multiple is significantly lower than its historical average, presenting a buying opportunity for long-term investors seeking value. Moreover, the company’s fundamentals make its current valuation even more enticing. goeasy offers double-digit earnings growth potential, a healthy dividend yield of 2.8%, and an impressive return on equity (ROE) of 26.4%. These metrics highlight the stock’s capacity to deliver income and capital appreciation to shareholders. Along with growth and value, goeasy stock offers consistent income. This Canadian financial services company has an impressive track record of dividend payments. In February 2020, goeasy was added to the , reflecting its solid dividend history. Notably, goeasy’s dividend increased about 113% from 2020 to 2023. Moreover, the company raised its dividend by 21.9% in February 2024. Overall, goeasy stock has consistently raised its dividends for a decade and is on track to increase it further in the upcoming years. goeasy is a compelling stock to buy right now. Its leading position in the subprime lending market, attractive valuation, and consistent dividend growth make it an ideal choice for long-term investors.

BYD on course to top 2024 sales target of 4M, outpace Ford, HondaMiami (6-7) at Houston (8-5) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS BetMGM Odds: Texans by 3. Against the spread: Dolphins 5-8; Texans 5-6-2. Series record: Texans lead 8-3. Last meeting: Dolphins beat Texans 30-15, on Nov. 27, 2022, in Miami. Last week: Dolphins beat Jets 32-26 in OT; Texans were off, beat Jaguars 23-20 on Dec. 1. Dolphins offense: overall (19), rush (24), pass (14), scoring (23). Dolphins defense: overall (9), rush (7), pass (11), scoring (T14). Texans offense: overall (18), rush (16), pass (17), scoring (11). Texans defense: overall (5), rush (10), pass (7), scoring (T12). Turnover differential: Dolphins minus-2; Texans plus-10. QB Tua Tagovailoa, who has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL at throwing with anticipation and accuracy since he returned from a concussion in Week 8. Tagovailoa leads the NFL with a 73.8% completion rate and threw for 300 yards for the third straight game last week vs. the Jets. Tagovailoa is the first player in NFL history to have at least 40 pass attempts, multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions in three consecutive games within a single season. QB C.J. Stroud has thrown for at least 225 yards in each of his six home games this season and is 11-4 in 15 starts in Houston, including the playoffs. He has thrown for 3,117 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season. Houston RB Joe Mixon vs. Miami’s run defense. Mixon ran for 101 yards in Houston’s previous game for his seventh 100-yard game this season. He ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game. This week he’ll face a run defense that ranks seventh in the NFL by holding teams to 105.6 yards a game. Miami LT Terron Armstead is dealing with a knee injury that limited him to just five snaps last week. He did not practice Wednesday... LBs Bradley Chubb (knee) and Cameron Goode (knee) could make their season debut, depending on how this week of practice goes, coach Mike McDaniel said. ... WRs Tyreek Hill (wrist) and Jaylen Waddle (hamstring), RB Raheem Mostert (hip), and LB Anthony Walker Jr. (hamstring) were among those limited in practice Wednesday. ... Houston S Jalen Pitre is expected to miss a second straight game with a shoulder injury. ... DE Denico Autry was limited in practice Wednesday because of a knee injury. Houston won the first seven meetings in this series. ... Miami didn’t get its first win against the Texans until a 44-26 victory in 2015. ... The Dolphins have won the past two meetings. ... These teams first met in the season opener in 2003 when Houston got a 21-20 win on a late field goal. Three of Miami’s final four games of the season are on the road. ... K Jason Sanders needs 13 points Sunday to reach 800. He also needs one field goal to reach 177, which would give him the second-most field goals made in franchise history. ... TE Jonnu Smith needs 100 yards receiving to reach 792 and set a franchise record for most yards receiving by a tight end in a single season. Smith had three catches for 44 yards, including the game-winning TD vs. the Jets last week after having no receptions during regulation. ... Tagovailoa needs a completion rate of 70% or better on Sunday to reach eight consecutive games completing at least 70% of his passes. That would tie him with Joe Montana (1989) and Drew Brees (2017-18) for the longest streak in NFL history. ... The Dolphins gave up a season-high 402 yards to the Jets last week. Aaron Rodgers burned Miami’s pass defense for 319 yards, and Miami’s secondary allowed a combined 223 yards by Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams. ... Houston can clinch the AFC South title for the second straight year with a win and a loss by Indianapolis Sunday. ... The Texans rank second in the NFL with 84 tackles for loss. ... Their 42 sacks also rank second. ... WR Nico Collins had eight receptions for 119 yards for his fourth 100-yard game this season in Houston’s previous game. He has had at least 75 yards receiving and a TD reception in each of his four home games this season. ... TE Dalton Schultz had five receptions for 61 yards and a score in Week 13. He has had at least five catches in two of his past three games. ... LB Azeez Al-Shaai will serve the first game of a three-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of QB Trevor Lawrence Sunday. ... DE Danielle Hunter is one of two players in the NFL this season with at least 15 tackles for loss (15) and 10 sacks (10 1/2). It’s his sixth career season with at least 10 sacks. He has eight tackles for loss and five sacks combined in his past three games. ... DE Will Anderson has had a sack in his past two home games. ... LB Henry To’oTo’o has had at least five tackles in four straight games. ... CB Derek Stingley had his third interception of the season in his previous game. ... CB Kamari Lassiter had a career-high eight tackles, including a tackle for loss in Week 13. ... S Jimmie Ward has had an interception in his past two home games. He also had an interception in his previous game against Miami in 2022 while with San Francisco. Collins has 456 yards receiving and four touchdown receptions in four home games this season. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflslot game jili 。

Creative Diagnostics Announces the Availability of Novel Cyclopiazonic Acid Test Reagents 11-25-2024 08:08 PM CET | Health & Medicine Press release from: ABNewswire Creative Diagnostics announces the release of its Cyclopiazonic Acid Test Reagents. Creative Diagnostics, a leading manufacturer and supplier of antibodies, small molecule conjugates and critical assay reagents for the analysis of food, feed, environmental and toxicological samples, is excited to announce the release of its Cyclopiazonic Acid Test Reagents [ https://www.creative-diagnostics.com/food-analysis/cyclopiazonic-acid.html ] to help ensure food safety. These reagents are designed to support the development of sensitive and specific immunoassays for the detection of this mycotoxin in food and other matrices. Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) is an indole trichothecene toxin produced by several species of Penicillium, mainly Penicillium camemberti, Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium commune, Penicillium viridicatum and Penicillium griseofulvum. Some Aspergillus species, such as Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus oryzae, can also produce CPA. Several authors have identified peanuts as the main source of this toxin, but studies have also shown that the toxin is present in products such as cereals, prosciutto, cheese, fruit and other nuts. CPA is not acutely toxic, with an oral LD50 of 30-70 mg/kg in rodents. The main target of this toxin is the nervous system and it is therefore considered a neurotoxin. Ingestion of CPA results in signs of ataxia and, in extreme cases, death due to spastic paralysis. It can also cause gastrointestinal lesions. The effect of CPA exposure on cells is due to the inhibition of calcium channels in cells. The toxin is a potent and selective inhibitor of calcium ATPase activity. Cyclopiazonic acid appears to be toxic only at high concentrations. The symptoms associated to CPA consumption also include anorexia, dehydration, weight loss, immobility and, in the case of near death, convulsions. Few cases of mycotoxicosis with cyclopiazonic acid have been reported because the poisoning is benign, the amount of toxicity is small, and the effects may be masked by concurrent aflatoxin poisoning (some toxicity data may have been derived from the use of aflatoxin-contaminated CPA). To date, there are no national regulations on CPA levels in food products. Consumption of CPA-contaminated foods can pose health risks and it is therefore essential to monitor food products for the presence of this mycotoxin. Creative Diagnostics' new Cyclopiazonic Acid test reagents are highly sensitive and specific and can be used with a variety of analytical methods including ELISA and LFIA. These reagents, such as Cyclopiazonic Acid Antibodies & Antigens, Cyclopiazonic Acid ELISA Kits, and Cyclopiazonic Acid Screen Tests, are also easy to use and require minimal sample preparation. Creative Diagnostics is committed to providing high-quality research reagents and diagnostic solutions to support the development of new and innovative mycotoxin detection technologies. To know more about the new Cyclopiazonic Acid Test Reagents and other food safety solutions, please visit https://www.creative-diagnostics.com/food-analysis/cyclopiazonic-acid.html . About Creative Diagnostics Creative Diagnostics is a leading manufacturer and supplier of antibodies, small molecule conjugates and critical assay reagents for the analysis of food, feed, environmental and toxicological samples. Its product portfolio covers a wide range of analytes including mycotoxins, drug residues, pesticides, contaminants, food allergens, food pathogens and vitamins. The company also assists customers in the rapid development, manufacture and commercialization of small molecule antigens, antibodies and food safety lateral flow strips for any market segment. Media Contact Company Name: Creative Diagnostics Contact Person: Thomas Schmitt Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=creative-diagnostics-announces-the-availability-of-novel-cyclopiazonic-acid-test-reagents ] State: New York Country: United States Website: https://www.creative-diagnostics.com/food-analysis/ This release was published on openPR.FIUGGI, Italy (AP) — Foreign ministers from the world’s leading industrialized nations expressed cautious optimism Monday about possible progress on a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The top diplomats met for the final time before a new U.S. administration takes office with wars raging in the Mideast and Ukraine. “Knock on wood,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said as he opened the Group of Seven meeting outside Rome. “We are perhaps close to a ceasefire in Lebanon," he said. "Let's hope it's true and that there's no backing down at the last-minute.” A ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon was foremost on the agenda of the G7 meeting in Fiuggi, outside Rome, that gathered ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, in the last G7 encounter of the Biden administration. For the first time, the G7 ministers were joined by their counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, the so-called “Arab Quintet,” as well as the Secretary General of the Arab League. “Everyone favors a ceasefire in both scenarios,” Tajani told reporters, adding that Italy had offered to take on an even greater peacekeeping role in Lebanon to oversee any ceasefire deal. As the ministers arrived in Italy, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Mike Herzog, told Israeli Army Radio on Monday a ceasefire deal to end fighting between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah could be reached “within days.” Several Arab ministers reiterated calls for a ceasefire in both Lebanon and Gaza during a G7-affiliated conference in Rome. “We need a ceasefire, a permanent ceasefire. That will stop the killings and stop the destruction and restore a sense of normalcy to life,” Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told the conference. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, for his part, reaffirmed that Cairo would host a minister-level conference next Monday on mobilizing international aid for Gaza. The so-called “Quintet” has been working with the U.S. to finalize a “day after” plan for Gaza. There is some urgency to make progress before the Trump administration takes over in January. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to pursue a policy that strongly favors Israel over the aspirations of the Palestinians. Tajani added another item to the G7 agenda last week after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas’ military chief. Italy is a founding member of the court and hosted the 1998 Rome conference that gave birth to it. But Italy’s right-wing government has been a strong supporter of Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, while also providing humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza. The Italian government has taken a cautious line, reaffirming its support and respect for the court but expressing concern that the warrants were politically motivated. The United States, Israel's closest ally, has called the warrants “outrageous.” Tajani acknowledged consensus hadn't been reached among the G7 members but hoped for agreement to have a unified position. He noted that all sides need Netanyahu to make any deal. “We can also not agree with how his government has led the reaction after the massacre of Oct. 7, but now we have to deal with Netanyahu to arrive at peace in Lebanon, peace in Palestine,” Tajani said. Nathalie Tocci, director of the Rome-based Institute for International Affairs think tank, warned that inserting the ICC warrant into the G7 agenda was risky, since the U.S. is the lone member that is not a signatory to the court and yet tends to dictate the G7 line. “If Italy and the other (five G7) signatories of the ICC are unable to maintain the line on international law, they will not only erode it anyway but will be acting against our interests,” Tocci wrote in La Stampa daily this weekend, recalling Italy’s recourse to international law in demanding protection for Italian U.N. peacekeepers who have come under fire in southern Lebanon. The other major talking point of the G7 meeting is Ukraine , and tensions have only heightened since Russia attacked Ukraine last week with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the strike was retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. The G7 has been at the forefront of providing military and economic support for Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022 and G7 members are particularly concerned about how a Trump administration will change the U.S. approach. Trump has criticized the billions of dollars that the Biden administration has poured into Ukraine and has said he could end the war in 24 hours, comments that appear to suggest he would press Ukraine to surrender territory that Russia now occupies. “It’s hugely important that this G7, that all colleagues across the G7 continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it lasts,” British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said as he arrived. He announced new sanctions on vessels of Russia's “shadow fleet” of ships that are evading sanctions to export Russian oil. “And we are confident that Ukraine can have the funds and the military equipment and kit to get through 2025,” Lammy said. The G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, the second of the Italian presidency after ministers gathered in Capri in April , is being held in the medieval town of Fiuggi southeast of Rome, best known for its thermal spas. On Monday, which coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ministers were attending the inauguration of a red bench meant to symbolize Italy’s focus on fighting gender-based violence. Over the weekend, tens of thousands of people marched in Rome to protest gender-based violence , which in Italy so far this year has claimed the lives of 99 women, according to a report last week by the Eures think tank.

Missed kicks. Poor tackling. Costly penalties. Week 12 was filled with sloppy play around the NFL, leading to some upsets and surprising outcomes. Jayden Daniels nearly led Washington to an improbable comeback down 10 in the final two minutes against Dallas only to fall short because Austin Seibert's extra point sailed wide left. After a field goal and successful onside kick, Daniels connected with Terry McLaurin on an 86-yard catch-and-run touchdown to bring the Commanders within one point with 21 seconds remaining. But Seibert's point-after attempt failed and the Cowboys returned the ensuing onside kick for a touchdown to seal a 34-26 victory. Special teams were atrocious for both teams. Seibert also missed his first extra point and Washington allowed KaVontae Turpin's 99-yard kickoff return for a score earlier in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys missed a field goal, had another blocked and had a punt blocked. People are also reading... "What a wild special teams moment of blocked punts, kicks, kickoff returns, blocked field goals, just a number of things going to that spot," Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. Washington (7-5) was a 10 1/2-point favorite over the undermanned Cowboys (4-7) but ended up losing a third straight game. The Houston Texans were 8-point favorites against the lowly Tennessee Titans and let the game come down to Ka'imi Fairbairn missing a 28-yard field goal that would have tied it with just under two minutes left. C.J. Stroud threw two interceptions, was sacked four times and the Texans (7-5) committed 11 penalties, including an illegal shift that negated a go-ahead 33-yard TD pass to Nico Collins on the drive that ended with Fairbairn's miss in the 32-27 loss. The Titans (3-8) averaged just 17 points per game before putting 32 on the scoreboard against Houston's defense that entered No. 4 in the league. "We didn't do anything well enough to win this game," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. "Out of all the positives that we did have, there were way too many negatives. Too many negative plays. Score, get a penalty, get touchdowns called back. Get penalties on special teams. Just way too many negative plays defensively, like unexplainable explosives for touchdowns. We just didn't play good across the board." The San Francisco 49ers didn't have quarterback Brock Purdy, star edge rusher Nick Bosa and All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams against Green Bay. That was no excuse for their undisciplined performance. The Niners committed nine penalties and their tackling was shoddy in a 38-10 loss to the Packers. The defending NFC champions are 5-6 with a trip to Buffalo (9-2) coming up. They're still only one game behind Seattle and Arizona in the NFC West. "I'm really not concerned right now about how many guys were missing. We didn't play good enough, so that's not a factor. But, when you are missing some guys, you do have to be better. When you have those penalties and we didn't stop the run like we did and we had those three turnovers in the second half, that's how you get embarrassed." Coming off their first loss of the season, the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs needed Patrick Mahomes' heroics on the final drive to beat Carolina 30-27. Mahomes ran 33 yards to set up Spencer Schrader's 31-yard field goal as time expired. Kansas City had 10 penalties, including a pass interference that gave the Panthers (3-8) another chance to make the 2-point conversion that tied the game with 1:46 remaining. On defense, the Chiefs (10-1) suddenly shaky unit gave up 334 total yards against Bryce Young and an offense that entered last in the NFL. "We've got to do better. We're doing good in the red zone but that's only a third of the field," Chiefs safety Bryan Cook said. "We will go back and look at the film to see what we're doing week to week, and see the tendencies that we're giving up, and just move forward from there. At the end of the day, we're all vets in the room for the most part. ... got to go back to the drawing board and see what we're doing and correct it from there." The Vikings allowed the Bears to recover an onside kick with 21 seconds left and Caleb Williams followed with a 27-yard pass to D.J. Moore to set up Cairo Santos' tying 48-yard field goal. But Minnesota won in overtime, 30-27. The Chiefs and Vikings overcame their mistakes in narrow victories. The Commanders, Texans and 49ers couldn't. They have to be better down the stretch to make a playoff run. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!How Exness Is Revolutionizing Forex Trading with Advanced Tools

In conclusion, the YU7 is more than just a vehicle; it's a testament to Xiaomi's relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence. As we eagerly await its official launch, one thing is certain – the YU7 is set to change the game and revolutionize the automotive industry.PM Images (all financial numbers are in USD, unless otherwise specified) TELUS International (Cda) Inc. ( NYSE: TIXT ) ( TSX: TIXT:CA ), now branded as TELUS Digital, is Canada's largest-ever technology spinoff company. It has also been an unmitigated disaster in terms of shareholder value destruction. Shares Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of TIXT either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

slot game login None

Clemson adds top 50 QB to '25 recruiting class

John Lamb Intro The U.S. stock market is near all-time highs and has experienced impressive performance in recent years. On the one hand, this has been good for our portfolio, but on the other hand, it has drastically reduced buying opportunities. Compared to two years ago there are Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of META, EVVTY either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Trump team signs agreement to allow Justice to conduct background checks on nominees, staff

‘Carry-On’ Closes In On Netflix All-Time Top 10 As ‘Virgin River’s Return Takes Top Weekly TV SpotLuigi Nicholas Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of a healthcare executive in New York City, apparently was living a charmed life: the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and with degrees from one of the nation's top private universities. Friends at an exclusive co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Hawaii where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived widely considered him a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on beaches and at parties. Now, investigators in New York and Pennsylvania are working to piece together why Mangione may have diverged from this path to make the violent and radical decision to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street. The killing sparked widespread discussions about corporate greed, unfairness in the medical insurance industry and even inspired folk-hero sentiment toward his killer. But Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sharply refuted that perception after Mangione's arrest on Monday when a customer at a McDonald's restaurant in Pennsylvania spotted Mangione eating and noticed he resembled the shooting suspect in security-camera photos released by New York police. “In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this, he is no hero,” Shapiro said. “The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this morning.” Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather, Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday, Baltimore County police officers blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangione’s parents. Reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance. The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione prepared his five sons — including Luigi Mangione’s father, Louis Mangione — to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. Nick Mangione had 37 grandchildren, including Luigi, according to the grandfather's obituary. Luigi Mangione’s grandparents donated to charities through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating Nick Mangione’s wife’s death in 2023. They donated to various causes, including Catholic organizations, colleges and the arts. One of Luigi Mangione’s cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione, a spokesman for the lawmaker’s office confirmed. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media by Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” Mangione, who was valedictorian of his elite Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press. He learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His social media posts suggest he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends at the Jersey Shore and in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, and other destinations. The Gilman School, from which Mangione graduated in 2016, is one of Baltimore’s elite prep schools. The children of some of the city’s wealthiest and most prominent residents, including Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., have attended the school. Its alumni include sportswriter Frank Deford and former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington. In his valedictory speech, Luigi Mangione described his classmates’ “incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things.” Mangione took a software programming internship after high school at Maryland-based video game studio Firaxis, where he fixed bugs on the hit strategy game Civilization 6, according to a LinkedIn profile. Firaxis' parent company, Take-Two Interactive, said it would not comment on former employees. He more recently worked at the car-buying website TrueCar, but has not worked there since 2023, the head of the Santa Monica, California-based company confirmed to the AP. From January to June 2022, Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. “There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, including surfing, Ryan said. “He went surfing with R.J. once but it didn’t work out because of his back,” Ryan said, but noted that Mangione and Martin often went together to a rock-climbing gym. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. An image posted to a social media account linked to Mangione showed what appeared to be an X-ray of a metal rod and multiple screws inserted into someone's lower spine. Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago. An X account linked to Mangione includes recent posts about the negative impact of smartphones on children; healthy eating and exercise habits; psychological theories; and a quote from Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti about the dangers of becoming “well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” Mangione likely was motivated by his anger at what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed, according to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by AP. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspect’s handwritten notes and social media posts. He appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown, asserting in his note that he is the “first to face it with such brutal honesty,” the bulletin said. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said. Associated Press reporters Lea Skene in Baltimore; Jennifer Sinco Kelleher in Honolulu; Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; and Michael Kunzelman in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.NEW YORK (AP) — A man accused of setting a woman on fire inside a New York City subway train and then watching her die after she was engulfed in flames made an initial court appearance Tuesday and will remain in custody. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, who federal immigration officials said is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally, was arraigned in Brooklyn criminal court. He appeared briefly before a judge and wore a white jumpsuit over a weathered black hooded sweatshirt. He did not speak. He will remain jailed ahead of his next court date on Friday. The apparently random attack occurred Sunday morning on a stationary F train at the Coney Island station in Brooklyn. Police said Tuesday that identification of the victim was still “pending at this time.” Authorities say Zapeta approached the woman, who was sitting motionless in the train car and may have been sleeping, and used a lighter to set her clothing on fire. The woman quickly became engulfed in flames, while the suspect then sat at a bench on the subway platform and watched, according to police. Video posted to social media appeared to show the woman standing inside the train ablaze as some people look on from the platform, and at least one officer walks by. NYPD Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta said Sunday that several officers had responded to the fire and one stayed to keep the crime scene “the way it’s supposed to be" while the others went to get fire extinguishers and transit workers. They were eventually able to douse the fire, but “unfortunately, it was too late,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said — the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. During Zapeta's court hearing on Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Ari Rottenberg said Zapeta at one point fanned the flames on the woman using his shirt. He said a 911 call from a subway rider helped identify Zapeta. Rottenberg added that under interrogation Zapeta claimed he didn’t know what happened, noting that he consumes alcohol. But he alleged that Zapeta identified himself to interrogators in images related to the attack. Zapeta was taken into custody Sunday afternoon while riding a train on the same subway line after police got a tip from some teenagers who recognized him from images circulated by the police. A Brooklyn address for Zapeta released by police matches a shelter that provides housing and substance abuse support. The shelter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Federal immigration officials said Zapeta had been previously deported in 2018 but at some point reentered the U.S. illegally. In a statement, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez called the attack a “gruesome and senseless act of violence against a vulnerable woman” that would be “met with the most serious consequences.” The crime — and the graphic video of it that ricocheted across social media — deepened a growing sense of unease among some New Yorkers about the safety of the subway system in a city where many residents take the subway multiple times each day. Overall, according to authorities, crime is down in the transit system this year when compared to last year — major felonies declined 6% between January and November of this year and in 2023, data compiled by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority show. But murders are up, with nine killings this year through November compared to five in the same period last year. Earlier this month, a Manhattan jury acquitted Daniel Penny in the death of an agitated subway rider that the former Marine placed in a chokehold last year. The case became a flashpoint in ongoing debates over safety, homelessness and mental illness on the system. Policing the subway is also difficult, given the vast network of trains constantly moving between the system’s 472 stations, with each stop containing multiple entry points and, in many stations, multiple floors and platforms. On Sunday, police at the station where the woman burned to death were patrolling a different area and responded after seeing and smelling smoke, authorities said.

Shirley Ballas spills exciting announcement away from Strictly after axe demandThese ASX 200 shares could be buys if there's a stock market crash in 2025

Microsoft works to add non-OpenAI models into 365 Copilot products

What did you Google in 2024? From the elections to Copa América, here's what search trends showRoss Barkley’s 85th-minute winner gave them victory after they had twice squandered the lead in Germany. John McGinn and Jhon Duran goals at the start of each half were cancelled out by Lois Openda and Christoph Baumgartner. But Barkley had the final say less than two minutes after coming off the bench as his deflected effort earned the points which sent his side third in the new Champions League league phase. The top eight automatically qualify for the next stage and with games against Monaco and Celtic to come, Unai Emery’s men are a good bet to avoid the need for a play-off round in their first foray in this competition. Leipzig are out, having lost all six of their games. Villa enjoyed a dream start and were ahead with less than three minutes on the clock. Matty Cash, playing in a more advanced position on the right, crossed for Ollie Watkins, who nodded down into the path of McGinn and the skipper made no mistake from close range. That gave the visitors confidence and they had enough chances in the first 15 minutes to have the game wrapped up. Lucas Digne’s cross from the left was begging to be converted but Watkins could not make contact from close range and then Morgan Rogers shot straight at Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi. Then Youri Tielemans found himself with time and space on the edge of the area from Watkins’ tee-up but the Belgium international disappointingly dragged wide. All that good work was undone in the 27th minute, though, as Emiliano Martinez was left red-faced. The Argentinian was too casual waiting to collect Nicolas Seiwald’s long ball and Openda nipped in to get the ball first and tap into an empty net. pic.twitter.com/LGoAMrLkQy — Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 10, 2024 Duran was introduced at the break and needed just a couple of minutes to fire a warning when he drilled wide after a loose ball fell to him 14 yards out. But the Colombian got his goal in the 52nd minute, though it was another moment for the goalkeeper to forget. Duran was invited to drive forward and unleashed a 25-yard shot, which was hardly an Exocet, but still was too much for Gulacsi, who barely even jumped. It was his 10th goal of the season and sixth from the bench as he continues his super-sub role. 😍 pic.twitter.com/ZHeVFiYUW9 — Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 10, 2024 The striker was not complaining and he thought he had doubled his tally shortly after when he converted Cash’s centre but the provider was ruled offside by VAR. Five minutes later, Villa found themselves pegged back again with a finish of real quality. Openda was sent clear by another long ball and his cross was perfect for Baumgartner to cushion a far-post volley back across goal and into the corner. Digne brought a save out of Gulacsi and then Openda shot straight at Martinez as both sides pushed for a winner. It was Villa who got it as Barkley saw his deflected effort wrong-foot Gulacsi and hit the back of the net.

NoneNone

YourUpdateTV speaks with the Travelers Institute: Putting the Brakes on Distracted DrivingIt’s the most wonderful time of the year, and these festive neighborhoods will prove it. Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, the Winter Solstice, or Kwanzaa, there is joy in strolling a nearby block or hopping in the car where you can blast holiday tunes. You can even explore holiday lights in some of these neighborhoods via a boat. We compiled a list of 10 Southern California destinations known for their lit holiday hoods! It wouldn’t be Southern California without some beachside holiday cheer and displays. Visitors can start their stroll at the marine or Mothers’ Beach for the best expedition. The neighborhoods surrounding Naples Island take the holidays to heart with some breathtaking Christmas light decorations that will guide Santa Claus in the dark night skies. Long Beach also puts on a beautiful Christmas tree lighting display and offers holiday light tours on a double-decker Big Red Bus that rides passengers around the best decorated private homes, the famous floating Christmas trees in Alamitos Bay, and near a Ferris Wheel. If you’re planning a more romantic festive date, Gondola Getaway Inc. provides gondola rides paired with a cup of hot chocolate for you and your sweetie. Where: Holiday Light Tours pick up is at Marni’s OC 620 Pacific Coast Hwy, Seal Beach. When: The Holiday Light tours are scheduled at 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday through Dec. 19, with the final night on Dec. 23. For tickets and reservations, call 562-852-9888 or email events@bigredbus.com. To book a Gondola ride, visit gondolagetawayinc.com . We’d be remiss, not to mention the other beautiful neighborhood nestled just steps away from Venice Beach. There is something so charming about shimmering lights over the neighborhood’s wooden framed bridges. Inspired by Venice, Italy, these man-made canals are a cozy display of Christmas lights where residents light up their homes and even some small boats that transform the area into a holiday paradise. It’s perfect for a nice winter stroll by the water. Don’t miss the Venice Canals Christmas Boat Parade on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 4:30 p.m. The annual tradition since the ’80s is a community celebration that showcases some of the city’s best-decorated boats. Where: Right off 25th St., Venice Beach. When: Now through Dec. 29. While caroling may not be as prominent as it once was, there are still ways to enjoy those holiday jingles alongside some Christmas lights. This Orange County neighborhood allows visitors to drive-thru and tune into 89.1 FM for Christmas music. Keep up with the Lights on Symphony St Facebook page for the most up-to-date information. Where: 1816 N Symphony St., Anaheim. When: 5-10 p.m. now through Jan 1. Organized by the Upper Hastings Ranch Association (UHRA) for more than 70 years, the neighborhood often drizzles its lawns with faux snow and decked-out decorations with no shortage of Christmas lights, attracting families from near and far to experience the festivities. The organizers’ Facebook page includes videos of live bands and community shows that have occurred in past celebrations. Where: Hastings Ranch Drive and Sierra Madre Blvd, Pasadena. When: 6-11 p.m. Dec. 6 through Dec. 31. The annual holiday tradition features over 125,000 lights, holiday figurines and decorations that bring people to the Inland Empire neighborhood every year. The city of Rancho Cucamonga restricts pedestrian access at this event to ensure safety and crowd control and passed a resolution to make it drive-thru only. Where: Thoroughbred, Sapphire and Jennett Streets, Rancho Cucamonga. When: 5-11 p.m. Dec. 6 through Dec. 24. Curated by Sherman Oaks resident Mike Ziemkowski, Lights on Display returns with an impressive showcase of holiday magic. This display features a combination of computer-controlled lighting, DMX-driven intelligent lights, and synchronized animatronic characters—all set to a festive playlist. Perfect for all ages, this free experience delights visitors Wednesday through Sunday, weather permitting, from November 29 to New Year’s Day. Where : 3901 Longview Valley Rd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 When : Wednesdays-Sundays, beginning Nov. 29 through Jan. 1. Hosted at the picturesque King Gillette Ranch, the fifth annual Holiday Road transforms Calabasas into a holiday wonderland. Featuring over 1 million Christmas lights, a mile-long walking trail with over 20 immersive scenes, live Santa, carolers, and festive bars, it’s a must-see event for holiday enthusiasts. New highlights this year include cutting-edge projection mapping, innovative light technology, and exclusive Maker’s Mark and Minus One Nine Six Vodka Seltzer activations. Where : 26800 Mulholland Hwy, Calabasas, CA 91302 When : 5-10 p.m., Nov. 29 through Dec. 28. Celebrate the season in a vibrant display of lights at Sparkle DTLA, where 18 million hues illuminate the night in sync with festive music. Located at The Bloc, this event features one of the city’s largest multi-colored interactive holiday displays, making it a unique experience for all ages. The nightly light show starts at 5 p.m. and runs through December 31. Where : 700 W 7th St., Los Angeles, CA 90017 When : 5-10 p.m., nightly through Dec. 31. Bring the holiday spirit to life at 123 Farm Christmas Nights, where twinkling lights meet festive fun in a charming Christmas Village setting. Stroll the farm while savoring seasonal foods and drinks, surrounded by holiday displays perfect for a family outing. Where : 10600 Highland Springs Ave., Beaumont, CA 92223 When : 5-10 p.m., Tuesdays-Sundays through Dec. 23. Experience a mile of magic on Christmas Tree Lane in Altadena, where towering cedar trees are adorned with twinkling lights and festive music fills the air. Beginning December 7 at 6 p.m., this annual tradition transforms Santa Rosa Avenue into a glowing wonderland, perfect for a stroll or a drive. Where : Santa Rosa Ave., between Altadena Dr. & Woodbury Rd., Altadena, CA 91003 When : Nightly starting Dec. 7.Ruud van Nistelrooy enjoys winning start with Leicester

Psychoanalysis explains why Donald Trump is taunting Canada and ‘Governor Justin Trudeau’Oliver Glasner: Crystal Palace are heading in right direction after Ipswich win

Christopher Nolan is following his Oscar-winning “Oppenheimer” with a true epic: Homer’s “The Odyssey.” It will open in theaters on July 17, 2026, Universal Pictures said Monday. Details remain scarce, but the studio teased that it will be a “mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX technology.” It will also be the first time that an adaptation of Homer’s saga will play on IMAX film screens. Nolan has been an IMAX enthusiast for years, going back to “The Dark Knight,” and has made his last three films exclusively using large format film and the highest resolution film cameras. For “Oppenheimer,” the first black-and-white IMAX film stock was developed. Nolan hasn’t said specifically what the new technology for “The Odyssey” will be, but earlier this month he told The Associated Press that they’re in an intensive testing phase with IMAX to prepare for the new production. “They have an incredible engineering staff, really brilliant minds doing extraordinary work,” Nolan said. “It’s wonderful to see innovation in the celluloid film arena still happening and happening at the highest level possible.” “The Odyssey” will be Nolan’s second collaboration with Universal Pictures following “Oppenheimer,” which earned nearly $1 billion at the box office and won the filmmaker his first Oscars, including for best director and best picture . Rumors about his next project have been swirling ever since, with near-daily speculations about plot — none of which turned out to be true — and casting. While there are many reports about actors joining the ensemble, none has been officially confirmed by the studio. Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press

Aston Villa’s impressive Champions League debut continued as they strengthened their chances of automatic qualification to the last 16 after a 3-2 win at RB Leipzig. Ross Barkley’s 85th-minute winner gave them victory after they had twice squandered the lead in Germany. John McGinn and Jhon Duran goals at the start of each half were cancelled out by Lois Openda and Christoph Baumgartner. But Barkley had the final say less than two minutes after coming off the bench as his deflected effort earned the points which sent his side third in the new Champions League league phase. The top eight automatically qualify for the next stage and with games against Monaco and Celtic to come, Unai Emery’s men are a good bet to avoid the need for a play-off round in their first foray in this competition. Leipzig are out, having lost all six of their games. Villa enjoyed a dream start and were ahead with less than three minutes on the clock. Matty Cash, playing in a more advanced position on the right, crossed for Ollie Watkins, who nodded down into the path of McGinn and the skipper made no mistake from close range. That gave the visitors confidence and they had enough chances in the first 15 minutes to have the game wrapped up. Lucas Digne’s cross from the left was begging to be converted but Watkins could not make contact from close range and then Morgan Rogers shot straight at Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi. Then Youri Tielemans found himself with time and space on the edge of the area from Watkins’ tee-up but the Belgium international disappointingly dragged wide. All that good work was undone in the 27th minute, though, as Emiliano Martinez was left red-faced. The Argentinian was too casual waiting to collect Nicolas Seiwald’s long ball and Openda nipped in to get the ball first and tap into an empty net. pic.twitter.com/LGoAMrLkQy — Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 10, 2024 Duran was introduced at the break and needed just a couple of minutes to fire a warning when he drilled wide after a loose ball fell to him 14 yards out. But the Colombian got his goal in the 52nd minute, though it was another moment for the goalkeeper to forget. Duran was invited to drive forward and unleashed a 25-yard shot, which was hardly an Exocet, but still was too much for Gulacsi, who barely even jumped. It was his 10th goal of the season and sixth from the bench as he continues his super-sub role. 😍 pic.twitter.com/ZHeVFiYUW9 — Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 10, 2024 The striker was not complaining and he thought he had doubled his tally shortly after when he converted Cash’s centre but the provider was ruled offside by VAR. Five minutes later, Villa found themselves pegged back again with a finish of real quality. Openda was sent clear by another long ball and his cross was perfect for Baumgartner to cushion a far-post volley back across goal and into the corner. Digne brought a save out of Gulacsi and then Openda shot straight at Martinez as both sides pushed for a winner. It was Villa who got it as Barkley saw his deflected effort wrong-foot Gulacsi and hit the back of the net.Kansas City (14-1) at Pittsburgh (10-5) Wednesday, 1 p.m., EST, Netflix. BetMGM NFL Odds: Chiefs by 2 1/2. Against the spread: Chiefs 7-8; Steelers 10-5 Series record: Steelers lead 25-14. Last meeting: Chiefs beat Steelers 42-21 in the first round of the playoffs on Jan. 16, 2022, in Kansas City. Last week: Chiefs beat Texans 27-19; Steelers lost to Ravens 34-17 Chiefs offense: overall (13), rush (15), pass (12), scoring (11). Chiefs defense: overall (3), rush (3), pass (17), scoring (3). Steelers offense: overall (19), rush (11), pass (25), scoring (12). Steelers defense: overall (11), rush (8), pass (20), scoring (7). Turnover differential: Chiefs plus-4; Steelers plus-16. WR Marquise Brown, who hurt his shoulder on the first play of the preseason and landed on injured reserve, made an impressive regular-season debut against Houston last week. “Hollywood” caught five passes for 45 yards, including an early 13-yarder that converted a fourth down and led to an eventual touchdown. But perhaps most importantly, Brown's mere presence kept Houston from double-teaming Xavier Worthy, DeAndre Hopkins and Travis Kelce all afternoon. Story continues below video LB T.J. Watt. The perennial All-Pro is dealing with an ankle injury and had a quiet game in the loss to Baltimore, finishing with just four tackles and didn’t have a single hit against Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. Pittsburgh's best chance at pulling the upset relies heavily on disrupting Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes at every turn. To do it, Watt will need to do some Watt-like things. The 30-year-old leads the NFL in forced fumbles for a defense that thrives on takeaways. Steelers RBs Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris against the Chiefs rush defense, which is ranked third in the NFL and allowing just 91.4 yards per game. The Chiefs held the Texans' Joe Mixon to just 57 yards rushing last week, the latest in a season-long trend of shutting down top running backs. The Browns' Nick Chubb had 41 yards the previous week, and the Ravens' Derrick Henry, the Falcons' Bijan Robinson and the Saints' Alvin Kamara are among those who have similarly struggled against Kansas City. Chiefs: LT D.J. Humphries (hamstring) and CB Chamarri Conner (concussion) are likely to miss a second straight game. DT Chris Jones (calf) and RT Jawaan Taylor (knee) are iffy after getting hurt against Houston. Steelers: WR George Pickens (hamstring) should return after missing the past three games. S DeShon Elliott (hamstring) and DT Larry Ogunjobi (groin) may also be back after sitting the past two weeks. Starting CB Joey Porter Jr. (knee) and backup wide receiver/special teams ace Ben Skowronek (hip) are out. The Steelers have dominated the series, leading 23-14, but the Chiefs have won the past three games. That includes a 42-21 rout in their most recent matchup in the wild-card round of the playoffs on Jan. 16, 2022 — the last game played by Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Prior to the Chiefs' three-game win streak, the Steelers had won three in a row, including an 18-16 victory in the divisional round on Jan. 15, 2017, that they won despite not scoring a touchdown. Kansas City can clinch the No. 1 seed and first-round playoff bye with a win over the Steelers, or if the Bills lose or tie when they play the Jets on Sunday. ... Pittsburgh has dropped two straight, but can still earn its first AFC North title since 2020 by winning its last two games. ... The Chiefs can set a franchise record for regular-season wins with their 15th by beating Pittsburgh or Denver in their regular-season finale, breaking a tie with the 2020 and ‘22 teams. ... The Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes needs three TD passes to break Peyton Manning’s record of 244 for a QB's first eight seasons. Mahomes did not start as a rookie and has played just 111 games while Manning played 128 over that span. ... Mahomes has dominated the Steelers so far in his career, throwing 14 touchdowns without a pick while leading Kansas City to three victories in as many tries. ... Chiefs WR DeAndre Hopkins has an NFL-leading 177 straight games with a catch. TE Travis Kelce is second with 173. ... Kelce has 76 TD catches, tied with Tony Gonzalez for the Chiefs record. Kelce has 79 total TDs, four shy of Priest Holmes' franchise record. ... WR Xavier Worthy has five TD catches, tied for the sixth most by a rookie in Chiefs history. Worthy also has three TD runs, and the eight total is also tied for sixth most in franchise history. ... Chiefs DB Trent McDuffie has intercepted a pass in back-to-back games. He did not have a pick in his first 48 games. ... This is the 12th game in Steelers history to be played on Wednesday and the first since 2020, when a showdown with the Ravens was repeatedly postponed because of COVID-19 issues. Pittsburgh is 5-6 all time on Wednesdays. ... A healthy Pickens will likely give the Steelers passing game a serious boost. QB Russell Wilson is averaging just 167.7 yards per game in Pickens' absence, down from 271 yards per game with Pickens in the lineup. ... This is Pittsburgh's first regular-season game against a team with 14 wins. ... The Steelers have five wins against the defending Super Bowl champions since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. ... Pittsburgh is 26-12 in Weeks 17 and 18 since the start of the 1990 season, the second-most wins in the NFL over that span behind Green Bay (28). ... The Steelers have won seven straight games and 12 of their past 13 the week following a loss of at least 17 points. ... Pittsburgh leads the NFL with 31 takeaways. and has forced at least two turnovers 11 times. It might be championship week in your league, so why not turn to a championship quarterback. Mahomes has earned the benefit of the doubt even in a “down” season by his standards and with Pittsburgh missing its top cornerback and the pass rush slowed of late, give Mahomes a start against a team he has toyed with in his career. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Luigi Nicholas Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of a healthcare executive in New York City, apparently was living a charmed life: the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and with degrees from one of the nation's top private universities. Friends at an exclusive co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Hawaii where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived widely considered him a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on beaches and at parties. Now, investigators in New York and Pennsylvania are working to piece together why Mangione may have diverged from this path to make the violent and radical decision to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street. The killing sparked widespread discussions about corporate greed, unfairness in the medical insurance industry and even inspired folk-hero sentiment toward his killer. But Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sharply refuted that perception after Mangione's arrest on Monday when a customer at a McDonald's restaurant in Pennsylvania spotted Mangione eating and noticed he resembled the shooting suspect in security-camera photos released by New York police. “In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this, he is no hero,” Shapiro said. “The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this morning.” Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather, Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday, Baltimore County police officers blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangione’s parents. Reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance. The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione prepared his five sons — including Luigi Mangione’s father, Louis Mangione — to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. Nick Mangione had 37 grandchildren, including Luigi, according to the grandfather's obituary. Luigi Mangione’s grandparents donated to charities through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating Nick Mangione’s wife’s death in 2023. They donated to various causes, including Catholic organizations, colleges and the arts. One of Luigi Mangione’s cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione, a spokesman for the lawmaker’s office confirmed. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media by Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” Mangione, who was valedictorian of his elite Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press. He learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His social media posts suggest he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends at the Jersey Shore and in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, and other destinations. The Gilman School, from which Mangione graduated in 2016, is one of Baltimore’s elite prep schools. The children of some of the city’s wealthiest and most prominent residents, including Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., have attended the school. Its alumni include sportswriter Frank Deford and former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington. In his valedictory speech, Luigi Mangione described his classmates’ “incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things.” Mangione took a software programming internship after high school at Maryland-based video game studio Firaxis, where he fixed bugs on the hit strategy game Civilization 6, according to a LinkedIn profile. Firaxis' parent company, Take-Two Interactive, said it would not comment on former employees. He more recently worked at the car-buying website TrueCar, but has not worked there since 2023, the head of the Santa Monica, California-based company confirmed to the AP. From January to June 2022, Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. “There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, including surfing, Ryan said. “He went surfing with R.J. once but it didn’t work out because of his back,” Ryan said, but noted that Mangione and Martin often went together to a rock-climbing gym. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. An image posted to a social media account linked to Mangione showed what appeared to be an X-ray of a metal rod and multiple screws inserted into someone's lower spine. Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago. An X account linked to Mangione includes recent posts about the negative impact of smartphones on children; healthy eating and exercise habits; psychological theories; and a quote from Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti about the dangers of becoming “well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” Mangione likely was motivated by his anger at what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed, according to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by AP. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspect’s handwritten notes and social media posts. He appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown, asserting in his note that he is the “first to face it with such brutal honesty,” the bulletin said. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said. Associated Press reporters Lea Skene in Baltimore; Jennifer Sinco Kelleher in Honolulu; Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; and Michael Kunzelman in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.By JUAN A. LOZANO, Associated Press HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company’s collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron’s new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand’s tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that “We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company’s website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70

How Trump’s bet on voters electing him managed to silence some of his legal woesEnvironmentalists say a proposed federal road project west of Nogales warrants deeper scrutiny of its potential impact to fragile jaguar and ocelot territory in the project area. The Holden Canyon Connector Road project, planned within rugged terrain west of Nogales, would add or improve 12 miles of roads between Holden Canyon and Warsaw Canyon. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says the project is needed to help agents traveling east to west through the mountainous area, about 10 miles southeast of Arivaca. “The limited east/west road access ... has constrained agents’ abilities to safely and efficiently respond to this area,” CBP said in its 2023 scoping letter , outlining the goals of the project. “The purpose of this project is to improve mobility and accessibility for CBP agents responding to and seeking to prevent illegal cross-border traffic, address emergencies involving human health and safety, and prevent or minimize environmental damage arising from occurrence of and response to CBV (cross-border violator) illegal entry on public lands," the agency said. But the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity says a draft environmental assessment published in November — as part of the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA — is inadequate. An ocelot stands on a tree branch above a Southern Arizona watering hole in a screen capture from a July 24 trail camera video released by the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity. In comments responding to the assessment, the nonprofit also objects to the assessment's preliminary finding that the project will have "no significant impact" on the critical habitats or listed species in the area. In addition to jaguar and ocelot sightings in this remote wilderness area, other potentially affected species include the yellow-billed cuckoo, Mexican spotted owl and Chiricahua leopard frog. If CBP’s draft “finding of no significant impact" becomes final, that would mean the agencies don’t have to conduct a deeper analysis under NEPA. But the Center for Biological Diversity says the potential impacts are significant enough that land managers should prepare a full environmental impact statement. “That’s exactly why we spend so much time commenting on these proposals,” said Laiken Jordahl, southwest conservation advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity. “They have an opportunity to change course, or at least include mitigations that would lessen the harms of the project.” Among the center's concerns , submitted to the U.S. Forest Service during the project's second public comment period, which ended in early December, the environmental assessment incorrectly stated that there have been no ocelot sightings in the area. This summer, an ocelot was recorded for the first time on June 12 in the Atascosa Highlands west of Interstate 19, which is within the project area, on a camera run by Phoenix Zoo researchers. Experts believe the same ocelot was spotted again east of I-19 in July. "It was a jaw-dropping omission that the land management agency charged with protecting these species didn't even acknowledge there was an incredibly rare ocelot sighting in this very mountain range, just a few months before this document was published," Jordahl said. "We know the cat is actively using these areas. It's moving through these mountainous corridors, and it would certainly be negatively impacted by this project." A comparison of the spots and rosette markings shows the same wild ocelot caught on camera at two different locations in Southern Arizona on June 12 (right) and July 24. A CBP official said the agency became aware of the ocelot sighting late in its environmental review process. CBP is now consulting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Coronado National Forest, on the project’s potential to affect the ocelot, the official said. The project calls for 3 miles of roads in the area to be decommissioned, in order to offset the impacts of new road construction. But those existing roads are already so far out of use and overgrown that they aren't recognizable as roads anymore, Jordahl said. Creating new roads in remote areas can end up increasing smuggling there, as human smugglers begin making use of those roads, Jordahl said. Recreational users also want access to the area, as indicated by comments submitted in the most recent public comment period, he said. "We have in the public record now comments from dirt-bike advocacy groups, indicating their eagerness to use this road, and also hunting groups saying they support the project because they want to use the road," he said. "That directly contradicts the environmental assessment, which says there won't be a significant uptick" in traffic in the area. A CBP official said the new roads will allow a Border Patrol presence in an area that has been largely unpatrolled, due to the lack of east-west roadways, and agents' presence there will discourage smuggling activity. Jordahl said CBP failed to look at alternative ways to improve response time in the area, such as improving north-south roads or technology-based solutions. "We list out a number of those alternatives they should have looked at. Not to say we’d support them, but legally they need to consider these alternatives, as many would be less damaging," he said. The Center for Biological Diversity emphasized that the agencies are obligated to consider the cumulative effects of previous border-wall infrastructure construction, as well as the Holden Canyon road project’s potential impacts. The Atascosa Highlands, which include the Pajarito Mountains, are “one of the best remaining corridors for jaguar and ocelot,” Jordahl said. “It connects to a wide expanse of wilderness land south of the border in Sonora, and ultimately connects up to the breeding population of both ocelots and jaguar in Sonora. Again, these rugged areas are the exact areas that are most favored by wildlife and especially spotted cats. They’re natural corridors for the species.” The public will have another chance to weigh in on the project after a draft decision is announced in April 2025, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service said in an email. The responses to specific comments will be published on the Forest Service website when the decision notice is posted in April, said Starr Farrell, public affairs officer for Coronado National Forest. The public can track the project’s progress and view submitted public comments on the agency’s site. The project's lead agencies, CBP and USFS, will have to address "all the substantive comments and concerns we’ve raised in our comments in order for it to be legitimate," Jordahl said. "If these concerns go unaddressed, that’s when the window for litigation opens." Contact reporter Emily Bregel at ebregel@tucson.com . On X, formerly Twitter: @EmilyBregel Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Border reporter

Christopher Nolan is following his Oscar-winning “Oppenheimer” with a true epic: Homer’s “The Odyssey.” It will open in theaters on July 17, 2026, Universal Pictures said Monday. Details remain scarce, but the studio teased that it will be a “mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX technology.” It will also be the first time that an adaptation of Homer’s saga will play on IMAX film screens. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Ruud van Nistelrooy enjoys winning start with Leicester

slot game ph By Anna Helhoski, NerdWallet The battle to get here was certainly an uphill one, but people are generally feeling better about the economy and their finances than they once did. On top of that, the economy has been easing into an ideal, Goldilocks-like position — not running too hot or cooling too quickly. Throughout 2024, consumer sentiment data showed people were fairly positive about the economy and their own finances, even if there’s remaining frustration over elevated prices compared to four years ago. Looking ahead, households are feeling more optimistic about their personal finances in the next year, as the share of those expecting to be in a better financial situation a year from now hit its highest level since February 2020. Combine positive personal vibes with a strong economic picture and it looks like 2024 wasn’t so bad for consumers, after all. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t bumps in the road or potential roadblocks ahead. To cap off the year, NerdWallet writers reflect on the top trends in personal finance and the economy this year — and what they think might be ahead in 2025. Elizabeth Renter, NerdWallet’s economist What happened: In 2024, U.S. consumers have proven resilient following a period of high inflation and ongoing high interest rates. Wage growth has been strong, owing in part to rising productivity. This has driven robust spending throughout the year, which has kept the economy growing at a healthy pace. The labor market has remained steady, though cooler than 2023, and price growth continues to moderate towards the Federal Reserve’s 2% inflation goal. What’s ahead: Barring significant changes to economic policy and significant shocks, the U.S. economy is expected to grow at a moderate rate in the coming year. Inflation will continue to moderate and the labor market will remain relatively healthy, all due in part to continued slow and deliberate rate cuts from the Fed. However, there are risks to this path. Higher tariffs and tighter immigration policies are likely, but the extent of these changes are yet unclear. The potential policy scenarios are many, and the economic outcomes complex. Increased tariffs are generally inflationary, and stricter immigration policies could impact the labor supply and economic growth. Consumers and small business owners with their eyes to the new year should focus on the things within their control. Margarette Burnette, consumer banking and savings writer What happened: High-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposit offered elevated rates in 2024, rewarding savers with strong returns. Following the Federal Reserve rate cuts in the second half of the year, high-yield accounts had modest rate decreases, but they continued to outperform traditional savings accounts and CDs. What’s ahead: We’re watching for further Federal Reserve rate cuts, which could lead to more decreases in savings rates. Sara Rathner, credit cards writer What happened: Credit card debt levels hit record highs, with consumers turning to credit cards to pay for necessities. While the economy is doing well, many individuals have struggled to make ends meet, as incomes haven’t kept up with certain costs. What’s ahead: We may see some policy and regulation changes with the incoming administration that could affect folks when it comes to credit cards, debt and consumer protections. Ryan Brady, small business writer What happened : New businesses continued to blossom in 2024 as business applications remained well above pre-pandemic levels. Confidence in the future state of the U.S. economy also spiked after the presidential election, but that optimism was tempered by concerns over rising costs and labor quality. What’s ahead: All eyes are on the incoming administration as small-business owners brace for turbulence resulting from potential tariffs, tax policy changes and dismantled government regulations. We’re also watching the possibility of interest rate cuts in 2025 and small-business owners’ growing reliance on new technologies, such as AI. Holden Lewis, mortgages writer What happened: Home buyers struggled with elevated mortgage rates, rising house prices and a shortage of homes for sale. On top of that, a new rule required buyers to negotiate their agents’ commissions. What’s ahead: The Federal Reserve is expected to cut short-term interest rates, but mortgage rates might not necessarily fall by a similar amount. Buyers will probably have more properties to choose from, and the greater supply should keep prices from rising a lot. Interest rates on home equity loans and lines of credit should fall, making it less expensive to borrow to fix up homes — either to sell, or to make the home more comfortable and efficient. Sam Taube, investing writer What happened: The stock market had a great year. The S&P 500 is up more than 25% due to falling interest rates, fading recession fears, AI hype, and the possibility of lighter taxes and regulations under the new administration. Cryptocurrency also saw big gains in 2024; the price of Bitcoin crossed the $100,000 mark for the first time in December. What’s ahead: A lot depends on how fast the Fed reduces rates in 2025. Another key unknown is Trump’s second term. Regulatory rollbacks, such as those he has proposed for the banking industry, could juice stock prices — but they also could create systemic risks in the economy. His proposed tariffs could also hurt economic growth (and therefore stock prices). Finally, it remains to be seen whether trendy AI stocks, such as NVIDIA, can continue their momentum into next year. It’s the same story with crypto: How long will this bull market last? Caitlin Constantine, assistant assigning editor, insurance What happened: Many people saw their home and auto insurance premiums skyrocket in 2024. In some states, homeowners are finding it harder to even find policies in the first place. Meanwhile, life insurance rates have started to decrease post-pandemic. We also saw more insurers offering online-only policies that don’t require a medical exam. What’s ahead: Auto and home insurance costs will likely continue to rise, although auto premiums may not rise as dramatically as they have over the past few years. And if you’re in the market for life insurance, expect to see competitive life insurance quotes and more customizable policies. Eliza Haverstock, student loans writer What happened: Borrowers received historic student loan relief, but lawsuits derailed an income-driven repayment plan used by 8 million whose payments are indefinitely paused. Uncertainty will carry into 2025 as a result of the presidential administration change. What’s ahead: Trump has pledged to overhaul higher education and rein in student loan relief. The fate of the SAVE repayment plan, student loan forgiveness options, FAFSA processing and more remain in the balance. Meghan Coyle, assistant assigning editor, travel What happened: People are willing to pay more for big and small luxuries while traveling, and airlines and hotels are taking note. Many airlines raised checked bag fees early in 2024, credit card issuers and airlines invested in renovated airport lounges, and major hotel companies continued to add luxury properties and brands to their loyalty programs. What’s ahead: Southwest will say goodbye to its open seating policy and introduce new extra-legroom seats, a major departure for the airline. Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines will unveil a unified loyalty program in 2025. Spirit Airlines may attempt to merge with another airline again after its 2024 bankruptcy filing and two failed mergers under President Biden’s administration. Travelers will find that they’ll have to pay a premium to enjoy most of the upgrades airlines and hotels are making. Laura McMullen, assistant assigning editor, personal finance What happened: This year, dynamic pricing expanded beyond concerts and travel to online retailers and even fast-food restaurants. This practice of prices changing based on real-time supply and demand received plenty of backlash from consumers and prompted the Federal Trade Commission to investigate how companies use consumers’ data to set prices. What’s ahead: Beyond an expansion of dynamic pricing — perhaps with added oversight — expect subscription models to become more prevalent and demand for sustainable products to grow. Shannon Bradley, autos writer What happened: New-car prices held steady in 2024 but remained high after a few years of sharp increases — the average new car now sells for about $48,000, and for the first time ever the price gap between new and used cars surpassed $20,000 (average used-car prices are now slightly more than $25,000). Overall, the car market returned to being in the buyer’s favor, as new-car inventories reached pre-pandemic levels, manufacturer incentives began making a comeback and auto loan interest rates started to decline. What’s ahead: The future of the car market is uncertain and depends on policies implemented by the incoming administration. Questions surround the impact of possible tariffs on car prices, whether auto loan rates will continue to drop, and if federal tax credits will still be available for electric vehicle buyers. Jackie Veling, personal loans writer What happened: Buy now, pay later continued to be a popular payment choice for U.S. shoppers, even while facing headwinds, like an interpretive ruling from the CFPB (which determined BNPL should be regulated the same as credit cards) and Apple’s discontinuation of its popular Apple Pay Later product. Large players like Affirm, Klarna and Afterpay continued to offer interest-free, pay-in-four plans at most major retailers, along with long-term plans for larger purchases. What’s ahead: Though more regulation had been widely anticipated in 2025, the change in administration suggests the CFPB will play a less active role in regulating BNPL products. For this reason, and its continued strength in the market, BNPL will likely keep growing. Taryn Phaneuf, news writer What happened: Easing inflation was a bright spot in 2024. In June, the consumer price index fell below 3% for the first time in three years. Consumers saw prices level off or decline for many goods, including for groceries, gas and new and used vehicles. But prices haven’t fallen far enough or broadly enough to relieve the pinch many households feel. What’s ahead: The new and higher tariffs proposed by the Trump administration could reignite inflation on a wide range of goods. Taryn Phaneuf, news writer What happened: Rent prices remain high, but annual rent inflation slowed significantly compared to recent years, staying around 3.5% for much of 2024, according to Zillow, a real estate website that tracks rents. A wave of newly constructed rental units on the market seems to be helping ease competition among renters and forcing landlords to offer better incentives for signing a lease. What’s ahead: If it continues, a softening rental market could work in renters’ favor. But construction is one of several industries that could see a shortage of workers if the Trump administration follows through on its promise to deport undocumented immigrants. A shortage of workers would mean fewer houses and apartments could be built. Anna Helhoski, news writer What happened: After a contentious presidential campaign, former President Donald Trump declared victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. While on the campaign trail, Trump promised to lower inflation, cut taxes, enact tariffs, weaken the power of the Federal Reserve, deport undocumented immigrants and more. Many economists have said Trump’s proposals, if enacted, would likely be inflationary. In Congress, Republicans earned enough seats to control both houses. What’s ahead: It’s unclear which campaign promises Trump will fulfill on his own and with the support of the new Congress. He has promised a slew of “day one” actions that could lead to higher prices, including across-the-board tariffs and mass deportations. Most recently, Trump pledged to enact 20% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, as well as an additional 10% tariff on China. He has also promised to extend or make permanent the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; many of its provisions expire by the end of 2025. Anna Helhoski, news writer What happened: Fiscal year 2023-2024’s funding saga finally came to an end in March, then six months later, the battle to fund the fiscal year 2024-2025 began. The Biden Administration waged its own war against junk fees . Antitrust enforcers pushed back against tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Google, and Meta; prevented the Kroger-Albertsons merger; nixed the Jet Blue-Spirit Airlines merger; and moved to ban noncompete agreements. The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the constitutionality of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, as well as a challenge to abortion pill access. SCOTUS also overruled its landmark Chevron case, which means every federal regulatory agency’s power to set and enforce its own rules are now weaker. What’s ahead: The election’s red sweep means the GOP will control the executive and legislative branches of government. They’ll face the threat of at least one more potential government shutdown; a debt ceiling drama comeback; and the beginning of the debate over extending or making permanent provisions of the expiring 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. More From NerdWallet Anna Helhoski writes for NerdWallet. Email: anna@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @AnnaHelhoski. The article What Trended in Personal Finance in 2024? originally appeared on NerdWallet .Caprock Group LLC Buys 2,305 Shares of APA Co. (NASDAQ:APA)Charles Belle, Professor at the Center for Law, Tech, and Social Good at the University of San Francisco – Interview Series

Pregnant Kylie Kelce Jokes About Jason Kelce's Lookalike Daughters

193 offenders arrested for drunk driving in HyderabadThrivent Financial for Lutherans Has $4.87 Million Stake in iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (NYSEARCA:EWU)

Civil jury orders Conor McGregor to pay rape claimantWhen Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Elon Musk and Robert F Kennedy Jr circled up aboard the president-elect’s plane over some McDonalds burgers and fries recently, Donald Trump Jr. was seated in the center of that power foursome. The central spot occupied by Trump’s eldest son, as captured in a photo widely shared online, reflects how Trump Jr. has become a prominent player in his father’s political orbit and a potential heir to his Make America Great Again movement. For the son of a president-elect, Trump has already had an outsized impact on the next White House. He lobbied hard for the former president to choose his good friend, Ohio Sen JD Vance, to be his running mate. “I exerted 10,000% of my political capital,” Trump Jr said of his effort in an interview with Tucker Carlson on the night of the election. “I may get a favor from my father in like, 2076. I used it all.” As an honorary chair of the Republican president-elect’s transition team, Trump Jr is part of a core group of people deciding who will fill top jobs in the next White House, and his imprint is clear. Trump Jr. pushed in particular for roles for former Democratic Rep Tulsi Gabbard, whom the president-elect has chosen to be director of national intelligence, and Kennedy, who is in line to lead Health and Human Services. Another close ally, Sergio Gor, will be running the personnel office. He and Trump Jr. run a publishing company, Winning Team Publishing, which has published two of the former president’s books. The younger Trump has said he has no plans to join his father’s administration in the way his younger sister Ivanka Trump did during the first Trump term. His brother Eric is also an honorary chair of the transition but hasn't been as much of a political player. Eric's wife Lara has been more involved, serving as co-chair of the Republican National Committee. Trump Jr is expected to continue to be a vocal supporter of his father and his agenda and has made it clear he wants to be an influential voice from the outside, according to a person familiar with his thinking who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning. The president-elect's style — brash, indelicate and pugilistic -- is distilled in his son. Donald Trump Jr often takes a more aggressive tack than his father, in his calls for disrupting government as usual, in the way he dives into the culture wars with gusto and in his enthusiasm for trolling. “He’s probably the best embodiment of the take-no-crap attitude of the Republican Party,” said Scott Jennings, a Republican political strategist. Trump Jr.'s attitude and the way he communicates don’t make him sound like a regular political figure, Jennings said, and that’s part of the appeal. “I think that’s one thing about the Trumps that is probably broadly true but certainly for him: They just don’t participate in the normal political pablum that sort of pre-Trump politicians were schooled in or trained to do.” The 46-year-old is fluent in the online world of conservative politics and attuned to cultural issues that catch on with the MAGA faithful. The posts on Trump’s X account, where he has more than 13 million followers, are often peppered with exclamation points and emojis. On Instagram, he is a prolific poster of conservative memes. He flexes between interviews on established media outlets like Fox News and an array of podcasts influential among young conservatives, and he hosts his own twice a week, “Triggered With Don Jr” During the campaign, he pushed for the former president to make appearances on podcasts as part of an effort to reach young men, including the popular Joe Rogan podcast. Trump Jr.’s aggressive style has particular appeal with younger men. “I think that’s one of the reasons a lot of these young men like it because that’s how they talk,” Jennings said. Trump Jr. has said he has no plans to run for office himself, but he’s been working to cultivate the next generation of his father’s movement, boosting like-minded, communication-savvy Republicans. Beyond his political activity, the father of five also serves as executive vice president at the Trump organization’s main family business, has launched a new crypto platform and recently announced he’s joining a venture capital firm that invests in conservative-focused businesses. In an earlier time, Trump Jr appeared with his father on “The Apprentice,” the reality show that helped propel the billionaire’s first presidential campaign. When Donald Trump launched his White House bid in 2015 and faced skepticism from swaths of the Republican Party, Trump Jr’s outreach helped his father win more support, especially among conservatives who saw someone who espoused their views and as an avid hunter and fisherman who is a staunch supporter of the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. He’s been increasingly visible in Republican politics since then, campaigning not just for his father but for like-minded candidates. He was a backer of Vance in his 2022 Ohio Senate race, nudging his father to do the same, and this year threw his support heavily behind successful Republican Senate candidates Jim Banks in Indiana, Bernie Moreno in Ohio and Tim Sheehy in Montana. Trump Jr helped broker a relationship with Kennedy as the Democrat-turned-independent suspended his presidential campaign, working to bring him into the MAGA fold and endorse his father. He floated the idea of Kennedy joining the administration early, saying in an interview with conservative host Glenn Beck that “I loved the idea,” of Kennedy joining a Trump White House. “I love the idea of giving him some sort of role in some sort of major three-letter entity or whatever it may be and let him blow it up,” Trump Jr said, a reference to the many initials for government agencies. The two hit it off, and Trump Jr, an avid outdoorsman, shared images on social media in October of a day he spent with Kennedy enjoying the latter’s favored hobby: falconry. The choice of anti-vaccine activist Kennedy to run the nation’s public health agencies is sure to draw tough scrutiny during confirmation proceedings in the Senate, even with a Republican majority, Trump Jr, in a recent interview on Fox News, acknowledged some of his father's choices will face pushback. “They are going to be actual disrupters,” he said. “That’s what the American people want.”Special counsel moves to abandon election interference and classified documents cases against Trump

Quinoa’s grain-like seed offers a flavorful nutrition-packed addition to soups, salads and side dishes, as well as ingredient for cereals, snacks and pasta. But in order for that versatile seed to get from farm field to table, quinoa growers must be vigilant for signs of downy mildew, a disease that can decimate the crop if left unchecked. To help growers, a team of researchers led by U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service plant pathologist Anna Testen devised a fast new test to genetically detect the pathogen in both quinoa seed and leaf tissue. The advance, reported in the September 3, 2024, issue of Plant Disease, opens the door to countering downy mildew on several fronts -- with benefits to U.S. growers hoping to expand the crop and to consumers, who prize the seed’s flavor and offering of protein, fiber, vitamins and essential amino acids. Caused by the fungus-like pathogen Peronospora variabilis , downy mildew appears as yellow to pinkish lesions on the leaves of infected quinoa plants. Infected leaves can also take on a cupped appearance, among other malformations as well as tissue death and discoloration. Under favorable conditions, outbreaks of downy mildew in susceptible quinoa varieties can inflict seed yield losses of as much as 100 percent. The test -- or "assay," as the scientists call it -- uses a laboratory procedure known as quantitative polymerase chain reaction to help detect specific segments of the downy mildew pathogen’s DNA, so long as it’s present in a seed or leaf sample. Additionally, with the quantitative polymerase chain reaction-based test, it can determine how much of the pathogen is present based on readings of light emitted by the procedure’s amplification of its DNA. That feature also distinguishes the test from other polymerase chain reaction-based methods that have been developed. "Quantitative PCR is much more sensitive (meaning, it can detect smaller amounts of DNA) than standard PCR, so there are fewer false negatives," said Testen, who is with the USDA ARS Application Technology Research Unit in Wooster, Ohio. It’s also more specific and faster, allowing for more samples to be screened, she said. Among potential uses is providing quinoa growers with an early warning system. In other susceptible crops, "spore traps that catch airborne spores paired with qPCR assays have been used to detect the downy mildew pathogen early and warn growers to treat their crops," said Testen. Another potential use is helping speed the identification of plants from quinoa breeding lines that can resist or tolerate downy mildew. Plant breeders can then pass the genes for that trait into elite quinoa varieties, shoring up their defenses against the disease. And on the phytosanitary front, the tests could help ensure that commercial shipments or germplasm exchanges of quinoa seed for research purposes are free of downy mildew, preventing new or re-introductions of the disease. And as quinoa’s U.S. popularity grows, "this tool will also help us track the quinoa downy mildew pathogen in the environment, potentially teaching us more about its epidemiology to improve disease management," said Testen, whose co-authors on the Plant Disease paper are Scott Shaw with the USDA ARS and Purnima Puri, Evan Domsic, Deirdre Griffin-LaHue, Kevin Murphy and Chakrahdar Mattupalli—all with Washington State University.

Romanian voters have delivered a split decision in the country's presidential race, with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and centre-right challenger Elena Lasconi emerging as the top contenders. Exit polls indicated Ciolacu, representing the social democrats, secured around 25% of the votes, establishing a slight lead. Elena Lasconi, from the centre-right, captured approximately 18% of the vote, positioning both candidates for a competitive run-off. The second round of voting is set for December 8, promising a fiercely contested race between the two political factions. Experts suggest the outcome could significantly impact Romania's political landscape, as the nation prepares for a decisive electoral face-off between these leading figures. (With inputs from agencies.)Vow ASA: Resolution to increase the share capital in connection with settlement of underwriting commission

Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. , the players’ association and the Braves paid tribute to Carty on social media on Sunday. No further details on Carty’s death were provided. “Carty was one of the first groundbreaking Latino stars in the major leagues, and he established himself as a hero to millions in his native Dominican Republic, his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, and the city of Atlanta, where he was a beloved fan favourite,” the players’ association said . The Braves said Carty left on the organization. “While his on-field accomplishments will never be forgotten, his unforgettable smile and generous nature will be sorely missed,” the team said in its statement. Carty made his big league debut with the Braves in September 1963. He batted .330 with 22 homers and 88 RBIs in his first full season in 1964, finishing second to Dick Allen in voting for NL Rookie of the Year. The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty got the franchise’s first hit in its new home on April 12, 1966, against Pittsburgh. Carty had his best year in 1970, batting .366 with 25 homers and a career-best 101 RBIs. He started the All-Star Game after he was elected as a write-in candidate, joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the NL outfield. Carty batted .299 with 204 homers and 890 RBIs over 15 years in the majors, also playing for Cleveland, Toronto, Oakland, Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He retired after the 1979 season.Traffic police taking steps to curb rising mishaps

Unwrap the latest AI features with Amazon Fire TabletsCenter for Vein Restoration Data Breach Exposes Personal Information: Murphy Law Firm Investigates Legal ClaimsSeveral wounded N.Korean soldiers died after being captured by Ukraine: Zelensky

Discount Tire Expands Into Youth Sports Nationwide With New ECNL Soccer Partnership SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading retailer of tires and wheels, Discount Tire , began a multiyear partnership for 2024-2026 with the Elite Clubs National League, or ECNL, the nation's top youth soccer program offering multiple developmental platforms for elite athletes. Discount Tire is now the Official Tire Retailer for the ECNL through the 2026 season, expanding its partnership roster to allow for a greater focus on the next generations of tire consumers. The partnership between Discount Tire and the ECNL officially kicked off in November at the ECNL Girls Phoenix Showcase in Arizona . During this three-day event, 178 teams from across the country in the U16-U18/19 age groups competed in front of hundreds of college and professional scouts for their chance to show their skills and talent. "Discount Tire strives to make the tire buying process easy, inviting, and safe for all drivers — no matter their age," shared Tom Williams , chief experience officer at Discount Tire. "By investing in our youth, Discount Tire can expand the knowledge of tire safety starting at an earlier age than we have before." Support for the ECNL expands Discount Tire's commitment to significant sponsor investments in soccer, including the multiyear deal as the Official Tire Retailer of Major League Soccer and teamwide partnerships with Chicago Fire, FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami, Nashville SC, Portland Timbers, and Seattle Sounders. "Since the founding of the girls league in 2009, the ECNL has grown into an incredible youth soccer platform for male and female youth players at the domestic and international levels," said Christian Lavers , ECNL President. "Today, the ECNL includes more than 400 clubs and 120,000 players nationwide, providing incredible competition, development and opportunities for all its athletes." Discount Tire's branding will be featured at more than 40 prominent ECNL Showcase and National Championship events annually. Discount Tire will be highlighted with field signage at each event, including at the Continental Tire ECNL National Selection Game series, receive exposure on the ECNL podcast " Breaking the Line , " and appear in ECNL newsletters and joint social media campaigns. The deal also includes title sponsorship of the ECNL Conference Cup and League Cups competitions, and branding on game jerseys. For more information on Discount Tire's investment in soccer, visit DiscountTire.com/MLS . About Discount Tire Discount Tire is a leading independent retailer of tires, wheels, and windshield wipers. Founded in 1960 by Bruce T. Halle , the company serves customers at more than 1,200 stores in 39 states. The company does business as Discount Tire in most of the U.S. and as America's Tire in parts of California and Pennsylvania . Treadwell, Discount Tire's proprietary online tire-buying guide, uses decades of data and individual driving habits to recommend the right tires for each driver's unique needs. For more information, visit www.discounttire.com . About the ECNL The ECNL is the nation's leading youth soccer development platform. The ECNL respects and celebrates the unique individuality of every youth soccer player and club, supporting and enabling them to unleash their unfettered passion and fierce tenacity in striving to achieve their potential. The ECNL mission to Raise the Game is a total commitment to create the best possible environment for players, coaches, referees and administrators, with a determination to constantly question convention and challenge the status quo in youth sports. The ECNL Commitment: We will lead, set our eyes on new horizons, and pursue them relentlessly. Born out of the belief in a better way. Continued in the ever-evolving pursuit of excellence. MEDIA CONTACT: Rachel Baker pressemails@discounttire.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a-new-multiyear-partnership-between-discount-tire-and-elite-clubs-national-league-302331670.html SOURCE Discount TireInspector General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Akhtar Hayat Gandapur, has issued directives to Regional Police Officers (RPOs) to ensure that the provincial police force does not engage in political activities. In an official letter, the IG emphasized that RPOs must strictly prohibit police personnel from participating in political gatherings, rallies, or protests. The letter explicitly stated that KP police should maintain its neutrality and not become involved in any political campaigns or events. The directive also warned that any violation of these orders would lead to departmental action against the personnel involved. The step of the IGP was seen as an effort to uphold the professional integrity of the police force and maintain its impartiality and professionalism in a politically charged environment. Job Quota: As per the judgment of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has eliminated job quota for the legal heirs of civil servants in all government jobs. A notification issued here by the provincial establishment department, said that the apex court had declared the appointment of the widow, widower, spouse, child of a civil servant in different grades on a contract or regular basis without open advertisement, competition and merit a violation of articles 3, 4, 5(2), 18, 25(1) and 27 of the constitution of Pakistan. It further noted that the court ordered federal and provincial governments to withdraw all policies, rules and procedures related to the appointment of the legal heirs of a civil servant in different grades, who dies during service or becomes permanently disabled, invalidated or incapacitated for further services and take retirement. The notification said that in light of the order of the Supreme Court the provincial government had directed all the departments to strictly comply with the orders of the court and ensure appointments based on open advertisement, competition and merit. It however, clarified that the order of the court would not affect the policies, rules or compensation packages of the provincial government for the benefit of the legal heirs of martyred personnel of law enforcement agencies and civil servants who die due to terrorist activities. Diphteria: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Health Advisor, Ihtesham Ali on Friday said that adequate supplies of anti-diphtheria serum were available across the province and urged parents to take their children to the nearest healthcare centres for vaccination. Responding to media reports on the worsening diphtheria outbreak in the province, he emphasised the critical need for vaccination to control the situation. In a statement, Ihtesham shared that a comprehensive report on the outbreak had been presented to raise awareness among the public and media about the severity of the disease. He stressed that the situation could be brought under control unless parents ensure their children were vaccinated against diphtheria and 11 other preventable diseases. The health advisor also disclosed that 26 deaths had been reported across the province due to diphtheria this year, adding that the disease’s rapid transmission from one child to another could aggravate the situation. He urged parents to immediately vaccinate their children and maintain social distancing as key measures to curb the spread. Earlier, the health department in its report revealed that 383 cases of diphtheria had been recorded this year across from 228 union councils in 27 districts of the province. Alarmingly, 91 percent of the affected children had not received the diphtheria vaccine, it said and added that the outbreak had occurred 27 times this year in districts including Peshawar, Mardan, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Kohat, Charsadda, Haripur, and Swabi, with 75 percent of affected children being over five years old. Agreements with Hospitals: DIG Welfare Muhammad Kashif Mushtaq Kanju has directed the heads of Dera region to ink agreements with best hospitals in their respective districts for providing treatment and healthcare services to Dera range personnel. Similarly, the DIG Welfare also directed authorities concerned of the district police to ensure that children of policemen had access to higher education by signing Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with different schools, colleges, and universities. He issued these directives during his visit to the Dera Ismail Khan region, aimed to address the welfare issues of police personnel and officers in the region. In this regard, he held a “Darbar” at the district’s police lines in line with the instructions of Inspector General of Police(IGP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Akhtar Hayat Khan. According to police spokesman Muhammad Kashif Mushtaq Kanju was presented a salute by a smartly turned-out police contingent upon his arrival at the police lines. He also laid a floral wreath at the martyrs’ memorial and prayed for their departed souls. He also conducted a video link session with police officers and personnel from Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Upper South Waziristan, and Lower South Waziristan to discuss and resolve welfare issues of the policemen. While earlier addressing the Darbar, DIG Welfare highlighted the significant measures taken by the Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Akhtar Hayat Khan, for the welfare of police personnel and the families of martyrs. He informed that agreements had been made with various hospitals across the province to ensure better healthcare facilities for police personnel and their families. Thus, he directed the high-ups of the district’s police to make similar agreements with hospitals and educational institutions for welfare of the police personnel of the region. He also lauded the dedication and sacrifices of all police officers and personnel in the Dera region, especially their courageous actions against anti-state elements. He acknowledged their invaluable contribution in safeguarding the nation.

slot game quick hit ENERGY SERVICES OF AMERICA COMPLETES ACQUISITION

Representational image US Universities Expand Tuition-Free Programs: Higher education in the United States is notoriously expensive, leaving many families burdened with debt or unable to afford college at all. While scholarships and grants help some students, they often cater to only a select segment of the population. Recently, a growing trend among top universities has focused on comprehensive tuition waivers aimed at making college more accessible for a broader range of students who are both deserving and in financial need. This week, five prominent universities announced tuition-free programs designed to reduce financial barriers for undergraduates from low- and middle-income families. IPL 2025 mega auction IPL Auction 2025 Live: CSK snatch Ravindra via RTM after Pant, Iyer become most expensive buys IPL 2025 Auction LIVE: Updated Full Team Squads IPL Auction 2025: Who got whom Spanning public and private institutions across multiple states, these initiatives underscore a nationwide push for affordability. Starting in 2025, these programs will provide significant financial relief to families, helping to ensure that cost isn’t a roadblock to higher education. Here's a closer look at how these programs work and what they mean for eligible students. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) MIT is expanding its already generous financial aid program. Starting next fall, students from families earning less than $200,000 annually will qualify for tuition-free education, an increase from the current threshold of $140,000. Families earning under $100,000 will receive full financial coverage, including tuition, room and board, books, and personal expenses—essentially making MIT cost-free. Currently, 35% of MIT undergraduates pay no tuition, and this expansion is expected to benefit an even larger proportion of students. University of Texas System Beginning in the fall of 2025, the University of Texas (UT) System will waive tuition and mandatory fees for students from families earning $100,000 or less annually. This new policy will apply to all nine UT academic institutions, unifying the varying financial aid programs previously in place across the system. By creating a universal income threshold, the UT System aims to provide consistent and accessible opportunities for students regardless of which campus they attend. Carnegie Mellon University Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is launching its CMU Pathway program in the 2025–26 academic year, offering tuition-free education to students from families earning $75,000 or less. Additionally, families earning up to $100,000 will benefit from substantial aid, ensuring that most students within this income range can attend without taking on significant student loans. This marks CMU’s commitment to making higher education attainable for a more diverse student body. Brandeis University Brandeis University, a private research institution near Boston, is also stepping up its financial aid. Starting in fall 2025, undergraduates from families earning less than $75,000 will receive grants and scholarships covering their full tuition. Families earning up to $200,000 will see a 50% tuition reduction. This initiative targets affordability while maintaining Brandeis’ commitment to fostering a supportive academic environment for students from varied economic backgrounds. University of Massachusetts (UMass) System The UMass System plans to enhance its existing financial aid offerings by fully covering tuition costs for high-need families earning $75,000 or less. Currently, this applies to 92% of eligible students, and the new initiative aims to close the gap for the remaining 8%. Eligible students must be Massachusetts residents, enrolled full-time, and pursuing an on-campus undergraduate degree. The program will span all UMass campuses, including Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, and Lowell. Quick overview: Tuition-Free Programs at US Universities — Benefits and Eligibility University Benefits Eligibility Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Tuition-free education for families earning

FLY WITH CONFIDENCEGainers Chimerix CMRX shares moved upwards by 150.9% to $2.17 during Tuesday's pre-market session. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $195.1 million. Cumberland CPIX shares rose 136.29% to $2.93. The company's market cap stands at $41.1 million. Cardiff Oncology CRDF shares rose 47.54% to $3.6. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $184.0 million. NewAmsterdam Pharma NAMS stock rose 35.74% to $25.14. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $2.3 billion. Psyence Biomedical PBM stock moved upwards by 31.88% to $2.73. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $2.3 million. Gelteq GELS stock increased by 23.87% to $4.41. The company's market cap stands at $41.6 million. Losers CervoMed CRVO stock decreased by 73.8% to $2.69 during Tuesday's pre-market session. The company's market cap stands at $22.2 million. Biora Therapeutics BIOR stock fell 47.78% to $0.7. The company's market cap stands at $3.1 million. Radiopharm Theranostics RADX stock decreased by 23.75% to $7.0. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $15.2 billion. Iterum Therapeutics ITRM shares declined by 16.87% to $2.42. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $66.5 million. China SXT Pharmaceuticals SXTC shares declined by 15.07% to $0.41. The market value of their outstanding shares is at $1.6 million. BioSig Technologies BSGM shares decreased by 13.64% to $0.95. The company's market cap stands at $16.3 million. See Also: www.benzinga.com/money/best-healthcare-stocks/ This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

47-year-old charged in October collision that killed Sarnia pedestrianAI is a Major Disruptor to Your Salesforce: How the Evolution of AI is Transforming Sales Teams

How an august body of men worked out India’s foundational documentNebraska's offense shines as Huskers take 2 touchdown lead over Wisconsin into the halfBERLIN (XINHUA) – The China-Europe freight train service has become a cornerstone of economic ties between China and the European Union (EU), providing essential support for industries requiring time-sensitive and reliable logistics, Chairman of the International Rail Freight Business Association Olaf Krueger told Xinhua in an interview. The imminent arrival of the 100,000th China-Europe Freight Train in Duisburg, Germany, marks a historic milestone for this rail link, which has emerged as a vital economic bridge. Krueger emphasised its pivotal role in enhancing trade and supply chain efficiency. “Rail transport has made a significant contribution to the strong economic growth between China and the countries of the EU. This transport option on the Silk Road has developed expansively and has been used in particular for time-critical transport,” he noted. Krueger praised railway workers for reducing transit times and improving transfer efficiency at gauge junctions. Recalling the challenges they faced, he highlighted how Chinese workers managed to transfer cargo at the China-Kazakhstan border during harsh winters with two metres of snow. “These photos have gone around the world, and the railwaymen involved must still be thanked today for this great effort,” he said. The 100,000th China-Europe freight train waits for departure at the Tuanjiecun Station in Chongqing, southwest China. PHOTO: XINHUA A view of the Duisburg port in Duisburg, Germany. PHOTO: XINHUA Under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the railway has become a dependable logistics solution for goods requiring prompt delivery, seeing significant growth as an option for time-sensitive shipments. “European companies have increasingly relied on the railway to optimise supply chains. Its stability and reliability ensure ‘just-in-time’ deliveries, which are essential for many industries,” Krueger said. He highlighted how importers of Chinese goods benefit from shorter transit times and faster market responses. European companies with production facilities in China have also come to depend on the rail network for material transport between factories. “Rail’s reliability prevents production delays and maintains supply chain continuity,” he explained. The retail sector is another key beneficiary, with many discount chains using the China-Europe Railway Express to ship non-food promotional items. “Retailers are increasingly demanding ‘just-in-time’ services, and the Railway Express meets these needs effectively,” Krueger said. As demand for rail services continues to grow, particularly from central and western China, Krueger stressed the importance of expanding railway infrastructure. “This is particularly necessary in difficult political and economic situations, as alternative transport solutions are required in the event of delivery restrictions in both maritime transport and air freight,” he said. Krueger proposed optimising the European rail network and logistics hubs to improve efficiency. Italy, he noted, is a key consumer market with increasing demand for both imports and exports. “More logistics terminals in Italy would boost container utilisation rates on both legs of the journey,” he suggested. He also advocated for improved rail links to ports such as Piraeus in Greece. “Expanding rail connections in Southern and Eastern Europe will enhance efficiency and foster economic integration,” he added. “Efficient transport connections are a prerequisite for the continuation and deepening of diplomatic relations between China and the EU,” Krueger said.

Donald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling

No. 9 Kentucky, focused on getting better, welcomes Jackson St.'Joy' portrays the birth of IVF as well as fertility stigma. Has much changed today?Bears keep GM Ryan Poles in driver's seat for coaching search

Stock market today: Wall Street rises with Nvidia as bitcoin bursts above $99,000

Gunners back in the groove as Calafiori demands consistency

How major US stock indexes fared Tuesday, 12/10/2024

Israel said Tuesday it had bombed more than 350 military sites in Syria during the previous 48 hours, targeting “most of the strategic weapons stockpiles” in the country. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the wave of airstrikes in neighboring Syria was necessary to keep the weapons from being used against Israel following the Syrian government’s stunning collapse . Israel also acknowledged its troops were pushing into a border buffer zone inside Syria, which was established after the 1973 Mideast war. However, Israel denied its forces were advancing Tuesday toward the Syrian capital of Damascus. Life in the capital was slowly returning to normal after jihadi-led Syrian insurgents ousted President Bashar Assad over the weekend. People celebrated for a third day in a main square, and shops and banks reopened. The United States said Tuesday it would recognize and support a new Syrian government that renounces terrorism, destroys chemical weapons stocks and protects the rights of minorities and women. Syria's nearly 14-year civil war killed nearly half a million people and displaced half of the country’s prewar population of 23 million, becoming a proxy battlefield for regional and international powers. Here's the Latest: SAYDNAYA, Syria — Tens of thousands came to Saydnaya Prison from all over Syria after the fall of former President Bashar Assad to search for their loved ones. The place so notorious for its horrors was long known as “the slaughterhouse.” For the past two days, all have been looking for signs of loved ones who disappeared years or even decades ago into the secretive, sprawling prison just outside Damascus. But hope gave way to despair Monday. People opened the heavy iron doors lining the hallways to find cells inside empty. With sledgehammers, shovels and drills, men pounded holes in floors and walls, looking for what they believed were secret dungeons, or chasing sounds they thought they heard from underground. They found nothing. Insurgents freed dozens of people from the Saydnaya military prison on Sunday when Damascus fell. Since then, almost no one has been found. “Where is everyone? Where are everyone’s children? Where are they?” said Ghada Assad, breaking down in tears. An estimated 150,000 people were detained or went missing in Syria since 2011 — and tens of thousands of them are believed to have gone through Saydnaya. WASHINGTON — The top U.S. military commander for the Middle East was on the ground in Syria on Tuesday, meeting with a Kurish-led, U.S.-allied force at several bases in the country's east, U.S. Central Command said. Army Gen. Erik Kurilla visited with U.S. military commanders and troops as well as the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. It wasn’t clear if he met with SDF leader Mazloum Abdi, and U.S. Central Command did not respond to a request for details about his visit or with whom he met. U.S. officials said they did not know what his message to the SDF was. The U.S has about 900 troops in Syria, including forces working with Kurdish allies in the northeast to prevent any resurgence of the Islamic State group. In a press release, Central Command said Kurilla received an “assessment of force protection measures, the rapidly evolving situation, and ongoing efforts to prevent ISIS from exploiting the current situation.” Kurilla then went on to Iraq where he met with leaders in Baghdad. UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations says it still getting reports about the looting of warehouses with humanitarian aid in a number of areas in Syria, including around the capital Damascus. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Tuesday that U.N. agencies and their partners are working to identify the extent of looting at the warehouses, including those of U.N. agencies and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. Dujarric said U.N. aid officials report that “the humanitarian situation remains volatile across Syria, with reports of people continuing to be displaced.” Humanitarian officials reported that 25 trucks carrying U.N. aid crossed from Turkey to northwest Syria, which the situation is now relatively calm, the U.N. spokesman said. All 11 receptions opened in Idlib in the northwest to host newly displaced families were empty as of Monday, Dujarric said. In the northeast, he said, authorities report that as of Tuesday 100,000 people have been displaced due to fighting in Tal Rifaat and other parts of Aleppo governorate. Dujarric said the U.N.’s partners report that “reception centers in Tabqa and Raqqa have reached full capacity, and more than 200 sites – including municipal buildings, schools, mosques, and stadiums – are being used to accommodate newly displaced people.” BEIRUT — The Lebanese army said Tuesday that “unidentified gunmen” crossed the border from Syria into eastern Lebanon's Bekaa province and approached a Lebanese border post. In a statement, the army said the gunmen fired into the air and seized equipment from an evacuated Syrian army post in the outskirts of Kfar Fouq, near Rashaya al-Wadi, in the western part of Bekaa province. Lebanese army personnel responded with warning shots, forcing the group to retreat back into Syrian territory. The Lebanese army did not report any injuries or provide further details about the identity of the gunmen. WASHINGTON — Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched multiple drones and a missile at three commercial ships being escorted in the Gulf of Aden by U.S. Navy ships, a U.S. official said Tuesday. There was no damage and no injuries. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations, said U.S. Navy destroyers, and Navy helicopter and a French Air Force aircraft shot down four of the drones and the missile. The three U.S. affiliated flagged ships were sailing east toward Djibouti. The Iran-backed Houthis have targeted shipping through the key waterway for more than a year, attacks they say are meant to force an end to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. JERUSALEM — Israel’s military said it bombed more than 350 sites in Syria during the previous 48 hours, targeting “most of the strategic weapons stockpiles” in the country. There is concern that, with the sudden collapse of the Syrian government, weapons stockpiles could be seized by jihadi militants. Warplanes hit what Israel said were Syrian air defense systems, military airfields, missile depots, and dozens of weapons production sites in the cities of Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia, and Palmyra, the Israeli army statement said. In naval operations overnight Monday, Israeli missile ships struck two Syrian navy facilities simultaneously — Al-Bayda port and Latakia port — where the army said 15 Syrian naval vessels were docked. Israeli did not specify how many Syrian naval vessels were hit. The private security firm Ambrey said it had seen evidence that at least six Soviet-era Syrian navy missile ships were hit. Israeli officials said earlier that Israel also targeted alleged chemical weapons sites. JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Tuesday that his country’s military launched a wave of airstrikes across Syria to destroy the toppled government’s leftover “military capabilities,” and said Israel wants relations with the new government emerging Syria. Hours after Israeli warplanes pounded Syria, Netanyahu said Israeli doesn’t want to meddle in Syria’s internal affairs, but would take necessary steps to protect Israel's security and prevent jihadi militants from seizing the Syrian army assets. He warned that if the new Syrian government “allows Iran to re-establish itself in Syria or allows the transfer of Iranian weapons or any other weapons to Hezbollah, or attacks us -- we will respond forcefully and we will exact a heavy price from it.” He spoke in a video statement recorded at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, after his first day of testimony in his corruption trial. DAMASCUS, Syria — In Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syrians celebrated the fall of President Bashar Assad for the third day on Tuesday despite Israeli airstrikes across the country. Insurgents who recently took control of the capital city tried to impose a new rule banning the celebratory gunfire. There were a few violators, and much less deafening gunfire. Protesters climbed the square's central monument to wave the Syrian revolutionary flag. On the ground, crowds chanted: “Out with Bashar! Out with Bashar!” Assad fled to Russia over the weekend after a lightning rebel offensive toppled his brutal police state. Demonstrators from different provinces marched in the square in groups, celebrating Assad's fall. Men on motorcycles and horses paraded into the square. One woman from Idlib province shouted that the Israeli strikes ruined the joy of ousting Assad. “Why are you striking us? We just deposed a tyrant,” she said. “Give us peace. Leave us alone,” said Ahmed Jreida, 22, a dentist student, when asked about the Israeli airstrikes. Hamzeh Hamada, 22, said this was the first time he had gone out to a demonstration. “We want the country to get better, to live in dignity and be like other countries that respect citizens’ rights and where there are no bribes,” he said. “We have suffered a lot from bribes. ... We had to bribe people for very minor things; things that should be our right.” Abdul-Jalil Diab was taking a stroll with his brothers in another square in western Damascus. He said he came back from Jordan the day Damascus fell. He was there studying German to prepare to move to Germany and said he is now reconsidering his plans. He was ecstatic, saying words can’t describe how he feels. “We are happy to get rid of the corrupt regime that was based on bribes. The whole country feels better. Everyone is happy and celebrating,” Abdul-Jalil Diab said. QAMISHLI, Syria — Residents of northeast Syria in the area around Qamishli airport said Tuesday they heard explosions overnight after an airstrike hit trucks loaded with rockets and ammunition that were heading to a military base in Tartab. “We don’t know the story. It was only in the morning when we realized they are trucks loaded with ammunition, leftovers of the former army, the regime,” said Ibrahim al-Thalaj, who lives near the base. He said residents assumed that the strikes were Israeli. Israel has carried out a heavy wave of airstrikes across Syria targeting military infrastructure after Syrian insurgents toppled the government of Bashar Assad. However, Turkish security officials said Tuesday that the strike in Qamishli was carried out by Turkey, targeting weapons and ammunition that were abandoned by the Syrian army and seized by Syrian Kurdish militants. The explosions lasted for over 20 minutes after the strike, and many houses in the surrounding area were damaged as a result, residents of the area said. “We just felt a strike hitting. It hit the first one (truck) and we saw the other trucks retreating back, and from there rockets and shells started flying over,” said Hamid al-Asaad, an eyewitness from Qub al-Zeki village in Qamishli. “We were sitting when these explosions started to hit the house,” said Mahmoud Hamza of Tartab. “It was hitting randomly and we didn’t know where it was coming from. ... Once we got out of our house, a rocket hit the house.” There were no details released by the local Kurdish administration regarding the explosions, but members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces blocked the road to the base. BRUSSELS — The European Union’s top diplomat is concerned that Syria might violently fall apart like neighboring Iraq, or Libya and Afghanistan if its territorial integrity and the rights of minorities are not protected. “The transition will present huge challenges in Syria and in the region,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told European lawmakers on Tuesday during a special hearing. “There are legitimate concerns about the risks of sectarian violence, extremist resurgence and the governance vacuum, all of which must be averted. We must avoid a repeat of the horrific scenarios of Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan,” she said. “The rights of all Syrians, including those of many minority groups, must be protected,” she said. “It is crucial to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria, and to respect its independence, its sovereignty, as well as the state institutions.” Kallas also said the collapse of the government has shown that Assad’s backers in Russia and Iran “could neither afford to do it any longer, nor had any interest of being present in the aftermath.” “They are weakened, distracted and overstretched in other theaters in the broader Middle East, but also in Ukraine,” she said. ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s intelligence agency, MIT, has attacked a convoy of trucks that was allegedly carrying missiles, heavy weapons and ammunition that were abandoned by the Syrian government and reportedly seized by Syrian Kurdish militias, Turkish security officials said Tuesday. The officials said 12 trucks, two tanks and two ammunition depots were “destroyed” in aerial strikes in the city of Qamishli, near the border with Turkey in northeast Syria. The officials provided the information on condition of anonymity in line with Turkish regulations. They did not say when the attack occurred. The officials said the intelligence agency detected that weapons left by the Syrian government forces were being moved to warehouses belonging to the Syrian Kurdish People’s Defense Units, or YPG. Turkey views the group as a terrorist organization because of its links to the banned Kurdish militants that have led a decadeslong insurgency in Turkey. According to the officials, he group was allegedly planning to use the equipment and supplies against Turkish security forces. By Suzan Fraser WASHINGTON — The White House is signaling its approval of Israel’s strikes against Syrian military and alleged chemical weapons targets and the seizure of a buffer zone in the Syrian Golan Heights after the fall of the Assad government. “These are exigent operations to eliminate what they believe are imminent threats to their national security,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday, saying the U.S. would leave it up to the Israelis to discuss details of their operations. “They have as always the right to defend themselves,” Kirby said. He declined to detail and U.S. intelligence cooperation with the Israelis that went into the strikes. Kirby said the White House was reasserting its support of the 1974 Golan Heights disengagement agreement, but didn’t criticize the Israeli seizure of the demilitarized zone. Israel has a long history of seizing territory during wars with its neighbors and occupying it indefinitely , citing security concerns. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in a move not recognized internationally, except by the United States. WASHINGTON — The Biden administration says it will recognize and support a new Syrian government that renounces terrorism, destroys chemical weapons stocks and protects the rights of minorities and women. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Tuesday that the U.S. would work with groups in Syria and regional partners to ensure that the transition from President Bashar Assad’s deposed government runs smoothly. He was not specific about which groups the U.S. would work with. Blinken says Syrians should decide their future and that other countries should “support an inclusive and transparent process” and not interfere. “The United States will recognize and fully support a future Syria government that results from this process,” he said. “We stand prepared to lend all appropriate support to all of Syria’s diverse communities and constituencies.” DAMASCUS, Syria — Jihad Mustafa Shibani was taking his new motorcycle for a spin with a friend around the house of the deposed Syrian president in western Damascus on Tuesday. Shibani was released from prison a week before the capital Damascus fell, after he served two years on charges of buying his motorcycle using foreign currency on accusations he was dealing in dollars. He was tortured for 15 days and and given a quick trial where he was sentenced for two years, he said. He was released the day Aleppo fell to the insurgents. “Everything was banned in Syria. The (Assad loyalists) only could use it,” Shibani said. He said he has never been to this neighborhood, because it was taken over by Assad, his family and supporters. “For 50 years, my family’s house is near here, and we don’t know anything about it. ... The Syrian people had been oppressed, you can’t imagine.” Shibani said he has no fear of the rebel newcomers who have taken control of the country. “We are not afraid. There can be no one more unjust than Bashar. Impossible.” BEIRUT — Lebanon’s prime minister is in contact with security and judicial officials to follow up on reports that senior members of President Bashar Assad’s government have fled to Lebanon. Najib Mikati’s office quoted him as saying that Lebanon abides by international laws regarding people who cross its borders. Rami Abdurrahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said that several top security officials have entered Lebanon over the past two days. Abdurrahman added that Syria’s former intelligence chief Ali Mamlouk, who is wanted in Lebanon over two bombings in 2012 in the northern city of Tripoli that killed dozens, was allegedly brought to Lebanon by the Hezbollah militant group and was staying in a southern suburb of Beirut where the group has deep support. Lebanon’s Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi, whose ministry is in charge of border crossings, told reporters Tuesday that no person who is wanted in Lebanon entered the country through legal border crossings. There are dozens of illegal border crossings between Lebanon and Syria where people are usually smuggled in and out of Lebanon, but it was not possible to independently confirm whether Mamlouk had entered Lebanon. GENEVA — The United Nations says humanitarian operations in two major areas in northwestern Syria have resumed, deploying food, medical supplies, fuel and other needed services and supplies. Spokesman Jens Laerke of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that some health facilities were “overwhelmed” – in part due to staff shortages – and many border crossings have been closed, disrupting supply chains. OCHA said humanitarian operations in some parts of northwestern Syria were put on hold in the early days of the recent escalation, and resumed on Monday. “As of yesterday, all humanitarian organizations in Idlib and northern Aleppo have resumed operations,” Laerke told reporters at a U.N. briefing in Geneva. He said the three border crossings from Turkey used by the U.N. to deliver assistance into Syria remain open and “we are providing assistance in the northwest, including to those who have been newly displaced.” Even before the latest escalation, which led President Bashar Assad to flee the country, nearly 17 million people in Syria needed humanitarian assistance. More than 1 million have been displaced across Idlib, Aleppo, Hama and Homs since the escalation. JERUSALEM — Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday that Israel's military destroyed Syria’s fleet overnight and intends to establish a demilitarized zone “in southern Syria” to prevent attacks on Israel. He also issued a warning to Syria’s rebels, saying that “whoever follows Assad’s path will end up like Assad — we will not allow an extremist Islamic terrorist entity to act against Israel across its border while putting its citizens at risk.” Speaking at a naval base in Haifa, Katz said the Israeli navy “operated last night to destroy the Syrian fleet and with great success.” Video showing the smoking wreckage of what appeared to be small Syrian naval ships in the port at Latakia was broadcast by Saudi-owned television station Al-Hadath on Tuesday. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has closely tracked the conflict since the civil war erupted in 2011, said Israel targeted Syrian warships, military warehouses and an air-defense facility on the coast. Katz added that he had instructed the army to establish a “defense zone free of weapons and terrorist threats in southern Syria, without a permanent Israeli presence, in order to prevent terrorism in Syria from taking root and organizing.” It was unclear if the demilitarized zone would reach beyond the buffer zone that Israel has taken over in the border area. Israel has a long history of seizing territory during wars with its neighbors and occupying it indefinitely , citing security concerns. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in a move not recognized internationally, except by the United States. DAMASCUS, Syria — Members of the Syrian government under ousted President Bashar Assad will gradually transfer power to a new transitional cabinet headed by Mohammed al-Bashir. The departing government met with al-Bashir for the first time since Assad fled Damascus over the weekend. Al-Bashir had previously led the “salvation government” running the rebel stronghold in northwest Syria. Al-Bashir told reporters after the meeting that the ministers discussed transferring the portfolios to the interim government during the transitional period until the beginning of March. He said that in the coming days the new government will decide on each ministry. DAMASCUS, Syria — Banks and shops are reopening in Damascus after the chaos and confusion of the first two days following the ouster of President Bashar Assad. Sadi Ahmad, manager of Syria Gulf Bank, said life is returning to normal. A customer who came to withdraw money from an ATM was surprised to see it functioning. At the historic Hamadiyeh market, fighters who seized power were still standing guard but shops had reopened — even an ice cream stand. Resident Maysoun Al-Qurabi said she was initially “against what happened,” referring to the insurgency, but changed her mind after seeing footage of rebels releasing inmates from the notorious Saydnaya prison. “People are at ease and secure now,” she said. “Before, people were hungry and scared.” DAMASCUS, Syria — Minority Christians in Syria have been living in a state of uneasy anticipation since insurgents headed by the Islamic militant group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham took control after ousting President Bashar Assad. Mazen Kalash, a resident of Bab Touma, a Christian neighborhood in Damascus, said he wants to know the plans of the new government that will be formed by the rebels. “The important thing is to feel safe, bring order, law and respect to the citizens,” he said. “We need to be able to work whatever we want and do whatever we want without any interference from anyone.” The insurgents have so far attempted to reassure minorities that they will be protected. Large numbers of Syrian Christians, who made up 10% of the population, fled after the civil war erupted in 2011. Many of those who stayed supported Assad out of fear they might be targeted by Islamist insurgents. TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at media during testimony at his corruption trial, which involves media moguls. “There has never been such a biased media in any democracy ... as there is in Israel,” Netanyahu told the court, describing his testy relationship with the press. He is accused of exchanging regulatory favors with media bosses for more positive coverage of himself and his family. He has denied wrongdoing. GENEVA — The U.N. envoy for Syria says armed groups that drove out President Bashar Assad have “been sending good messages” about national unity and inclusiveness but acknowledges that a Security Council resolution still counts the leading one as a terrorist group. With Syria’s future and stability still very much in flux since Assad’s departure over the weekend, Geir Pedersen suggested that the international community needs to help the country get through this turbulent moment. “We are still in what I would call a very fluid period. Things are not settled,” Pedersen told reporters at U.N. offices in Geneva on Tuesday. “There is a real opportunity for change, but this opportunity needs to be grasped by the Syrians themselves and supported by the U.N. and the international community.” Referring to Israeli military strikes in Syria, Pedersen said it was “extremely important that we now don’t see any action from any international country that destroys the possibility for this transformation in Syria to take place.” The insurgents are led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which grew out of an al-Qaida-affiliate called the Nusra Front that the Security Council listed as a terror group in a 2015 resolution. “This is obviously a complicating factor for all of us,” Pedersen said. “But we also have to be honest, we have to look at the facts and to see what has happened during the last nine years.” “The reality so far is that the HTS and also the other armed groups have been sending good messages to the Syrian people,” he said. “They have been sending messages of unity, of inclusiveness, and frankly speaking, also, we have seen in (the captured cities of) Aleppo and in Hama ... reassuring things on the ground." Ahmad al-Sharaa, previously known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency and the founder of both groups Nusra and HTS, cut ties with al-Qaida in 2016 and says he is committed to pluralism and religious tolerance. ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey has “strongly” condemned Israel’s advance into Syrian territory, saying it was in violation of a 1974 agreement on a buffer zone inside Syria. “We strongly condemn Israel’s violation of the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement, its entry into the separation zone between Israel and Syria, and its advance into Syrian territory,” Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The ministry accused Israel of “displaying a mentality of an occupier” at a time when the possibility of peace and stability had emerged in Syria. The statement also reiterated Turkey’s support to Syria’s “sovereignty, political unity, and territorial integrity.” Israeli troops on Sunday entered the buffer zone that had been established after the 1973 Mideast war and the military said it would deploy in “several other places necessary for (Israel’s’) defense.” TEL AVIV, Israel — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he works 17 to 18 hours a day and that he is engulfed in meetings, especially during the past year that Israel has been fighting wars. Netanyahu was testifying in his long-running corruption trial. He has denied charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases. “If only I could steal away five minutes to enjoy some time with my wife,” he told the court Tuesday. TEL AVIV, Israel — An Israeli military official says troops plan to seize a buffer zone inside Syria as well as “a few more points that have strategic meaning.” The official spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. The official dismissed reports of a larger Israeli invasion as “rumors.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israeli forces were moving to control a roughly 400-square-kilometer (155-square-mile) demilitarized buffer zone in Syrian territory. The buffer zone between Syria and the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights was created by the U.N. after the 1973 Mideast war. Following the overthrow of President Bashar Assad, Israel sent troops into the buffer zone. It said the move was temporary and was aimed at preventing attacks. It said the 1974 agreement establishing the zone had collapsed and that Syrian troops had withdrawn from their positions. Israel has also carried out airstrikes across Syria in recent days targeting what it says are suspected chemical weapons and long-range rockets. Egypt and Saudi Arabia have condemned Israel’s incursion, accusing it of exploiting the disarray in Syria and violating international law. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in a move not recognized by the international community, except for the United States. The rest of the world views the strategic plateau as occupied Syrian territory. — By Joseph Krauss DAMASCUS, Syria — Israel’s air force has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in different parts of Syria as its ground forces move north of the Golan Heights along the border with Lebanon, according to an opposition war monitor. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Tuesday that since the fall of President Bashar Assad’s government, Israel’s air force has carried out more than 300 airstrikes against research centers, arms depots and military infrastructure across Syria, as well as a naval base along the Mediterranean coast. Associated Press journalists in Damascus witnessed intense airstrikes on the city and its suburbs overnight into Tuesday morning. Photographs posted online by activists showed destroyed missile launchers, helicopters and warplanes. Meanwhile, Israeli troops marched along the border with Lebanon and now control a long stretch on the Syrian side facing Lebanon’s Rashaya region, according to the war monitor's head, Rami Abdurrahman, and the Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV, which has reporters in Syria. Israeli troops are now about 25 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Damascus, according to the monitor. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Saudi Arabia has condemned Israel’s incursion into a buffer zone in Syria and a wave of Israeli airstrikes launched after the overthrow of President Bashar Assad. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that “the assaults carried out by the Israeli occupation government, including the seizure of the buffer zone in the Golan Heights, and the targeting of Syrian territory confirm Israel’s continued violation of the principles of international law and its determination to sabotage Syria’s chances of restoring its security, stability and territorial integrity.” Israel sent troops into a buffer zone inside Syria that had been established after the 1973 Mideast war. It said the move was temporary and was taken to prevent any cross-border attacks after Syrian troops withdrew. Israel has also carried out heavy airstrikes that it says are aimed at preventing suspected chemical weapons and long-range rockets from falling into the hands of extremists. Saudi Arabia has been in talks with the United States in recent years over normalizing relations with Israel in exchange for a U.S. defense pact, American assistance in establishing a civilian nuclear program and a pathway to the establishment of a Palestinian state. But the kingdom has also repeatedly condemned Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip, where it is at war with the Hamas militant group. Last month, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and day-to-day ruler Mohammed bin Salman accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza , allegations Israel adamantly rejects.

In the aftermath of the talks, President Zelensky has vowed to continue working with the United States, France, and other allies to find a path forward that ensures the security and sovereignty of Ukraine. While the road ahead may be challenging, the commitment to dialogue and cooperation remains essential to achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict and promoting stability in the region.Happy Spotify Wrapped day to all who celebrate! For the uninitiated, today is when users of the music streaming app find out what tunes have filled their ears the most during the past year – and then flood social media with posts about it. The 2024 Wrapped data was released Wednesday morning and can be accessed via Spotify. Globally, Taylor Swift is the top artist of the year on Spotify for the second year in a row, and she has the top album, "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology." Another Pennsylvania pop princess, Sabrina Carpenter , from Bucks County, has the most-streamed song globally with "Espresso," and the third-most played album with "Short n' Sweet." MORE: Kendrick Lamar and SZA will play at Lincoln Financial Field on May 5 How do listeners in Philadelphia compare to music lovers around the world? Swift, a Berks County native, also is the most-played artist in Philly this year, followed by Drake, Zach Bryan – who lived in Philadelphia for a time – Morgan Wallen and Kanye West, Spotify's data shows. Swift was the music platform's most streamed artist here in 2023, too. Philly's tastes align with the app's global data for the top song and top album of 2024, with Carpenter's "Espresso," and Swift's "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology" each ranking No. 1 locally on the respective lists. Here are the top-five lists for Spotify's most-streamed artists, songs and albums in Philadelphia: Philadelphia's Top Artists of 2024 on Spotify: Philadelphia's Top Songs of 2024 on Spotify: Philadelphia's Top Albums of 2024 on Spotify: Follow Franki & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @wordsbyfranki | @thePhillyVoice Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Have a news tip ? Let us know.slot game zeus 。

None

The leader of Georgia's main opposition party was detained by police in Tbilisi, according to his party, after being knocked unconscious. This high-profile arrest adds to a series of similar incidents amid protests over a halt in EU membership talks. Video footage released by the Coalition for Change shows Nika Gvaramia, the party leader and former media manager, being carried away by police. Allegations of assault during his detention remain unverified. In conjunction with Gvaramia's arrest, other opposition figures, including Aleko Elisashvili and youth protest leaders, were also detained. Amid thousands of pro-EU protesters confronting riot police using water cannons, the government persists in accusing demonstrators of revolutionary plots reminiscent of Ukraine's 2014 Maidan protests. The political turmoil has sparked international reactions, with critics accusing the Georgian government of veering towards authoritarianism and pro-Russian policies. (With inputs from agencies.)Britain’s economy is stagnating, new figures have shown amid warnings that tax rises in Rachel Reeves’s budget are damaging business confidence. A major survey of businesses found that private sector activity fell to a 13-month low in November as companies cut back on hiring and investment. Economists said that businesses had given a “thumbs down” to Reeves’s budget, particularly her decision to increase employers’ national insurance to raise £25 billion to balance the books and fund public spending. Some of Britain’s biggest retailers have warned that the increase in national insurance will lead to job cuts, price rises and shop closures . Official forecasts suggest that the tax rises will stymie economic growth over the next five years. After the release of the new economic data the pound dropped to its lowest level against the dollar since May and banking stocks also fell.Reports: Delaware State hires DeSean Jackson as head coach

SLT-Mobitel’s mCash and Lanka Sathosa unveil bill collection servicesslot machine quick hits 。

Stocks wavered on Wall Street in afternoon trading Thursday, as gains in tech companies and retailers helped temper losses elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 was down less than 0.1% after drifting between small gains and losses. The benchmark index is coming off a three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 6 points, or less than 0.1%, as of 1:52 p.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite was down less than 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened after the Christmas holiday. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.9%, Micron Technology was up 1% and Adobe gained 0.8%. While tech stocks overall were in the green, some heavyweights were a drag on the market. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.1%. Meta Platforms fell 0.7%, Amazon was down 0.6%, and Netflix gave up 1.1%. Tesla was among the biggest decliners in the S&P 500, down 1.9%. Health care stocks helped lift the market. CVS Health rose 1.7% and Walgreens Boots Alliance rose 3% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 2.8%, Best Buy was up 2.2% and Dollar Tree gained 2.7%. Retailers are hoping for a solid sales this holiday season, and the day after Christmas traditionally ranks among the top 10 biggest shopping days of the year, as consumers go online or rush to stores to cash in gift cards and raid bargain bins. U.S.-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4% and 16%, respectively. The Japanese automakers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. Traders got a labor market update. U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week , though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labor Department reported. Treasury yields turned mostly lower in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.57% from 4.59% late Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar. Still, U.S. markets have historically gotten a boost at year’s end despite lower trading volumes. The last five trading days of each year, plus the first two in the new year, have brought an average gain of 1.3% since 1950. So far this month, the U.S. stock market has lost some of its gains since President-elect Donald Trump’s win on Election Day, which raised hopes for faster economic growth and more lax regulations that would boost corporate profits. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Even so, the U.S. market remains on pace to deliver strong returns for 2024. The benchmark S&P 500 is up roughly 26% so far this year and remains near its most recent all-time high it set earlier this month — its latest of 57 record highs this year. Wall Street has several economic reports to look forward to next week, including updates on pending home sales and home prices, a report on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity. AP Business Writers Elaine Kurtenbach and Matt Ott contributed.

ED SHEERAN was awkwardly asked to leave Sky Sports' live coverage after gatecrashing their interview with new Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim. Singer-songwriter Sheeran, 33, is a minority owner of his hometown club Ipswich and watched the newly-promoted side draw 1-1 with the Red Devils at Portman Road on Sunday. 4 Ed Sheeran crashed the Sky Sports panel during their interview with Ruben Amorim Credit: Sky Sports 4 Sheeran embraced former Liverpool and England midfielder Jamie Redknapp Credit: Sky Sports 4 The singer-songwriter is a minority owner of Ipswich Credit: Sky Sports 4 But he was politely told by Redknapp to move out of shot during the Amorim interview Credit: Sky Sports After the game, Amorim faced the Sky Sports panel following his first game in charge of Man Utd . Kelly Cates, Roy Keane, Izzy Christiansen and Jamie Redknapp were putting questions to the Portuguese coach when Sheeran came into shot in his Ipswich jacket. Cates said: "Ed Sheeran has come to join us. Ed we're just chatting to Ruben Amorim who may not want to talk to an Ipswich fan." Sheeran gave Amorim a brief wave as he hugged a beaming Redknapp. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL HIT AND RUN Car 'deliberately' ploughs into fans outside Premier League stadium after match Cates added: "But from an Ipswich perspective it was almost perfect," referencing his hit-single "Perfect". Sheeran replied: "I love it. I love being back in the Premier League." Cates then added: "We're really glad to hear from you," before Redknapp politely said to Sheeran: "You gonna come and say hello in a minute?" Sheeran proceeded to shake hands with Redknapp before he sheepishly walked out of shot. Most read in Football RED HOT SCOT Scott McTominay hailed as Serie A's best midfielder by legend of rival club HIT AND RUN Car 'deliberately' ploughs into fans outside Premier League stadium after match PHIL THE HEAT Latest on Philippe Clement's future at Rangers amid swirling sack rumours STAR SHOWING Ex-Celtic ace labelled 'most improved player' after starring vs Euro giants CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS And Cates ended the spontaneous segment by saying: "Thanks very much, Ed." Sheeran, who owns 1.4 per cent of Ipswich, has watched his side take four points from games against Tottenham and Man Utd. Roy Keane tells fan 'I'll wait in the car park' after furious pitchside confrontation following Ipswich vs Man Utd Kieran McKenna 's men sit 18th in the Premier League - their first top-flight season since 2002. They are only in the relegation zone on goal difference, with crunch games against fellow strugglers Crystal Palace and Wolves coming up in the next three weeks. Next up for The Tractor Boys is a trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Meanwhile, drama ensued with Sky Sports pundit Keane at Portman Road after he had a furious confrontation with a fan and told the supporter "I'll wait for you in the car park".Mainstream global opinion since Donald Trump won the US presidential election has been that his administration will bring instability to the world by imposing stiff import tariffs and abandoning America’s role as a security provider. We believe high tariffs and a withdrawal from providing global security are the two primary paths Trump has laid out to achieve his goal of making America great again. Therein lies a significant political and economic opportunity for China. For a start, Trump cannot aim these two policy thrusts solely at China; that would not help his goal at all. Making America great again has its own logic, which is to restore the country as the world’s leading manufacturing power. Only by protecting its domestic market and acquiring vast external funds can Trump ultimately serve his goal. The United States’ social system produced Wall Street, which led the country to develop and operate its economy along financial capitalist lines. Wall Street became an outsize part of the US economy and society. In this context, the decline of US manufacturing was inevitable, as was the loss of its crown as the world’s top industrial power. This has led to traditional manufacturing towns in the United States suffering from economic decline, unemployment and lower living standards.

Evergreen Stock Soars to All-Time High of $11.82 Amidst Steady Growth

Kids News young journalists crownedSam Hicks, defense lead Abilene Christian over Northern Arizona 24-0 to extend 1st trip to playoffs

M&A News: Walgreens Stock (WBA) Soars amid Potential Acquisition by Sycamore - TipRanksWith December upon us, Brits up and down the country are getting into the Christmas spirit. While the vast majority of us look forward to the festive period, a survey once found that one UK city was a lot less enthusiastic. The nationwide poll found that the people of Norwich hate Christmas more than any other city in the UK despite being one of the best places to visit during festivities. Nottingham was second with 10% saying they don't enjoy Christmas. Next was Leeds in third. Edinburgh, Manchester, and Canterbury were the next three cities with a negative view of the festive period. At the other end of the spectrum, Peterborough was found to be the most enthusiastic about Christmas , with 60% saying they love it. The survey was carried out in 2017, but it appears Norwich is now embracing the Christmas spirit. This year, a three-day Christmas market is being held at The Shoe Factory Social Club at St Mary's Works in the city. There are more than 50 stalls each day selling handmade gifts, homewares, prints, art, fashion, ceramics, woodwork, candles, skincare, cards and wrapping paper. Rosie Nolan, the event organiser, said: "We love The Shoe Factory for its history and industrial feel. "Some of our traders have parents or grandparents who used to work at the factory when it was still producing shoes. "Now they come here to sell the things that they make. "Once the space is filled with all of the makers, music and people it has such a great vibe." Which says that the best cities in the UK to visit for Christma markets are: Bath, Chester, Durham, Winchester, Wells, Liverpool, Edinburgh, York, and Belfast.

The USS Zumwalt is at a Mississippi shipyard where workers have installed missile tubes that replace twin turrets from a gun system that was never activated because it was too expensive. Once the system is complete, the Zumwalt will provide a platform for conducting fast, precision strikes from greater distances, adding to the usefulness of the warship. “It was a costly blunder. But the Navy could take victory from the jaws of defeat here, and get some utility out of (the ships) by making them into a hypersonic platform,” said Bryan Clark, a defence analyst at the Hudson Institute. The US has had several types of hypersonic weapons in development for the past two decades, but recent tests by both Russia and China have added pressure to the US military to hasten their production. Hypersonic weapons travel beyond Mach 5, five times the speed of sound, with added manoeuvrability making them harder to shoot down. Last year, The Washington Post newspaper reported that among the documents leaked by former Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira was a defence department briefing that confirmed China had recently tested an intermediate-range hypersonic weapon called the DF-27. While the Pentagon had previously acknowledged the weapon’s development, it had not recognised its testing. One of the US programmes in development and planned for the Zumwalt is the Conventional Prompt Strike. It would launch like a ballistic missile and then release a hypersonic glide vehicle that would travel at speeds seven to eight times faster than the speed of sound before hitting the target. The weapon system is being developed jointly by the Navy and Army. Each of the three Zumwalt-class destroyers would be equipped with four missile tubes, each with three of the missiles for a total of 12 hypersonic weapons per ship. In choosing the Zumwalt, the Navy is attempting to add to the usefulness of a 7.5 billion US dollars (£5.9 billion) warship that is considered by critics to be an expensive mistake despite serving as a test platform for multiple innovations. The Zumwalt was envisioned as providing land-attack capability with an advanced gun system with rocket-assisted projectiles to open the way for Marines to charge ashore. But the system featuring 155mm guns hidden in stealthy turrets was cancelled because each of the rocket-assisted projectiles cost up to one million dollars (£790,000). Despite the stain on their reputation, the three Zumwalt-class destroyers: Zumwalt, Michael Monsoor and Lyndon B Johnson; remain the Navy’s most advanced surface warships in terms of new technologies. Those innovations include electric propulsion, an angular shape to minimise radar signature, an unconventional wave-piercing hull, automated fire and damage control and a composite deckhouse that hides radar and other sensors. The US is accelerating development because hypersonics have been identified as vital to US national security with “survivable and lethal capabilities”, said James Weber, principal director for hypersonics in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Critical Technologies. “Fielding new capabilities that are based on hypersonic technologies is a priority for the defence department to sustain and strengthen our integrated deterrence, and to build enduring advantages,” he said.