Washington — Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, a former national security adviser to Donald Trump, said Sunday that the upcoming months will be "really critical" in determining the "next phase" of the war in Ukraine as the president-elect is expected to work to force a negotiated settlement when he enters office. McMaster, a CBS News contributor, said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that Russia and Ukraine are both incentivized to make "as many gains on the battlefield as they can before the new Trump administration comes in" as the two countries seek leverage in negotiations. With an eye toward strengthening Ukraine's standing before President-elect Donald Trump returns to office in the new year, the Biden administration agreed in recent days to provide anti-personnel land mines for use, while lifting restrictions on Ukraine's use of U.S.-made longer range missiles to strike within Russian territory. The moves come as Ukraine marked more than 1,000 days since Russia's invasion in February 2022. Meanwhile, many of Trump's key selection for top posts in his administration — Rep. Mike Waltz for national security adviser and Sens. Marco Rubio for secretary of state and JD Vance for Vice President — haven't been supportive of providing continued assistance to Ukraine, or have advocated for a negotiated end to the war. McMaster said the dynamic is "a real problem" and delivers a "psychological blow to the Ukrainians." "Ukrainians are struggling to generate the manpower that they need and to sustain their defensive efforts, and it's important that they get the weapons they need and the training that they need, but also they have to have the confidence that they can prevail," he said. "And any sort of messages that we might reduce our aid are quite damaging to them from a moral perspective." McMaster said he's hopeful that Trump's picks, and the president-elect himself, will "begin to see the quite obvious connections between the war in Ukraine and this axis of aggressors that are doing everything they can to tear down the existing international order." He cited the North Korean soldiers fighting on European soil in the first major war in Europe since World War II, the efforts China is taking to "sustain Russia's war-making machine," and the drones and missiles Iran has provided as part of the broader picture. "So I think what's happened is so many people have taken such a myopic view of Ukraine, and they've misunderstood Putin's intentions and how consequential the war is to our interests across the world," McMaster said. On Trump's selections for top national security and defense posts, McMaster stressed the importance of the Senate's advice and consent role in making sure "the best people are in those positions." McMaster outlined that based on his experience, Trump listens to advice and learns from those around him. And he argued that the nominees for director of national intelligence and defense secretary should be asked key questions like how they will "reconcile peace through strength," and what they think "motivates, drives and constrains" Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump has tapped former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence, who has been criticized for her views on Russia and other U.S. adversaries. McMaster said Sunday that Gabbard has a "fundamental misunderstanding" about what motivates Putin. More broadly, McMaster said he "can't understand" the Republicans who "tend to parrot Vladimir Putin's talking points," saying "they've got to disabuse themselves of this strange affection for Vladimir Putin." Meanwhile, when asked about Trump's recent selection of Sebastian Gorka as senior director for counterterrorism and deputy assistant to the president, McMaster said he doesn't think Gorka is a good person to advise the president-elect on national security. But he noted that "the president, others who are working with him, will probably determine that pretty quickly." Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C.
NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball switched a pair of series involving the Tampa Bay Rays to the first two months of the season in an attempt to avoid summer weather problems at open-air Steinbrenner Field, their temporary home following damage to Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay is scheduled to play 13 of its first 16 games at home and 47 of 59 through May 28, then play 69 of its last 103 games on the road. The Rays are home for eight of 25 games in July and eight of 26 in August. A series scheduled at the Los Angeles Angels from April 7-9 will instead be played at Tampa, Florida, from April 8-10, MLB said Monday. The second series between the teams will be played at Anaheim, California, from Aug. 4-6 instead of at St. Petersburg, Florida, from Aug. 5-7. Minnesota's first series against the Rays will be played at Steinbrenner Field from May 26-28 and the Twins' second will be at Target Field in Minneapolis from July 4-6. The Class A Tampa Tarpons, Steinbrenner Field's usual team, had six home postponements, two cancellations and four suspended games this year from June 21 through their season finale on Sept. 8. Tampa Bay is now scheduled to play its first six games at home against Colorado and Pittsburgh, go to Texas for a three-game series, then return for a 13-game homestand against the Angels, Atlanta, Boston and the New York Yankees. Tropicana Field, the Rays' home since the team started play in 1998, was heavily damaged by Hurricane Milton on Oct. 9, with most of its fabric roof shredded. The Rays cannot return to the Trop until 2026 at the earliest, if at all. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/
Gary O’Neil accepts criticism from Wolves fans after heavy defeat at Everton(The Center Square) – Legislators in Washington, D.C., have taken a number of steps over the past few days to push for insurance and pharmaceutical reforms to be passed before the end of the year. On Wednesday, a bicameral group of Republican and Democrat lawmakers held a press conference discussing the need for pharmacy benefit manager reform to protect small pharmacies across the country and “save lives.” “Whether you are a Republican, Democrat, or an independent, we all want the same thing. We want accessible, affordable, quality health care,” said Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga. “We’re not here today to just discuss one bill or to discuss just one patient’s story. We're here because there's broad, bipartisan pharmacy benefit manager, or PBM, reform that is needed to save lives.” Pharmacy benefit managers are the middlemen responsible for managing the drug prices covered by health insurance plans. According to the Harvard Political Review , the problem with pharmacy benefit managers is that they “have vertically integrated with pharmacy chains and health insurers through massive conglomerates.” That then allows them to abuse their power to cut out small pharmacies and increase prices. Carter also signed a letter that was released last week calling on the Department of Justice to dig into the role pharmacy benefit managers played in the opioid epidemic. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., Deborah Ross, D-N.C., and Cliff Benz, R-Ore., all joined him in signing that letter. “The opioid crisis has devastated communities in North Carolina and across the country, and PBMs may have fueled it by prioritizing profits over people,” Ross said on social media . “That’s why I joined a letter calling on the DOJ to investigate their role and hold these bad actors accountable.” The letter looked at recent reports on the largest pharmacy benefit managers, CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx which state that they “colluded and conspired to steer patients towards OxyContin in exchange for $400 million.” OxyContin is a trade name for the narcotic oxycodone hydrochloride, a painkiller available by prescription only. This and the general “lack of transparency” is just one of the many complaints that legislators aired on Wednesday. “My colleagues who are joining me today, Democrats and Republicans ... all recognize that PBMs are decreasing the accessibility, the affordability, and therefore the quality of health care in America,” Carter said. “We have an opportunity, right now, to advance bipartisan legislation that increases reporting requirements, which would heighten transparency and shine a light on the opaque practices of these PBMs.” Carter was also joined by Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., who is leading the effort to get legislation passed in the U.S. Senate. “This year, we're losing about one pharmacy a day in America,” Lankford said. “We want leadership to be able to take this up and to bring it up in the end-of-year package ... Stop holding up legislation that is bipartisan, bicameral, and solving a problem that Americans need solved.”
On Ukraine’s homefront, a DIY drone industry helps fill military’s needs
GeeMee achieved major partnerships at Mobidictum Conference 2024-Boosting Growth with Ad Tech solutions 11-27-2024 07:52 PM CET | Associations & Organizations Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Queqi Culture Media GeeMee took part in the Mobidictum Conference 2024 in Istanbul, showcasing its innovative solutions and the latest advancements in mobile advertising. The company shared its expertise in monetization strategies and provided valuable industry insights, offering publishers and developers practical guidance for achieving sustainable growth at this major gaming industry conference. Building a Strong Presence: Existing Partnerships and New Opportunities GeeMee is empowering app developers across more than 20 countries, forging strong partnerships with exceptional publishers spanning entertainment, tools, video, etc, like Zee in Entertainment and other publishers. Building on this success, GeeMee is actively extending its proven expertise and innovative solutions to the gaming industry. Participation in the Mobidictum Conference 2024 further solidified GeeMee's role as a transformative force in mobile advertising, providing an opportunity to connect with pioneers in the global gaming sector and showcase the advanced potential of its technology in delivering immersive and impactful ad experiences. GeeMee also established strong relationships with new potential partners, including Yamy Studio, Leke Games, Udo Games, Joinco Games, and Unico Studio. These conversations underscored mutual respect and collaboration, with both sides showing alignment with the vision for the future of mobile advertising and opportunities to work together. The Mobidictum Conference in Istanbul served as a vital platform for industry interaction, allowing GeeMee to connect with publishers, developers, and leaders to share insights on evolving trends in mobile advertising. Image: https://www.getnews.info/uploads/3d378c8dd0c8e09c757d319c6834e229.jpg The Industry Landscape: Challenges and New Developments The mobile game industry is navigating a pivotal moment, as developers around the world tackle both challenges and emerging opportunities. In-app advertising has become a cornerstone of monetization, particularly in casual games, where it creates new avenues for engaging both paying and non-paying players. As mobile advertising evolves, developers are placing greater emphasis on improving user engagement. Advancements in AI and machine learning are transforming ad delivery, enabling personalized and meaningful experiences for users. Within this dynamic environment, GeeMee's participation as a gold sponsor at the Mobidictum Conference 2024 highlighted its innovative contributions to the industry. Max Martinez, GeeMee's Head of Strategic Partnerships, shared how its AI-driven technology enhances in-app ad engagement, creating ad experiences that resonate deeply with individual users. GeeMee's solutions are designed to bridge the needs of advertisers, publishers, developers, and users, ensuring that in-app advertising integrates seamlessly into the app experience without compromising quality. By harnessing AI-driven technology, GeeMee enables resource-constrained developers to access advanced tools that empower them to compete effectively in a market often dominated by larger players. These innovations ensure that developers can deliver personalized, impactful ad experiences while maintaining a strong focus on user satisfaction. The Significance and Future Outlook GeeMee's presence at the Mobidictum Conference marked a milestone in its journey within the global gaming industry. As the company broadens its global partnerships and introduces its solutions to new markets, its commitment to advancing mobile in-app advertising remains steadfast. Looking ahead, GeeMee is focused on continuously refining its offerings to align with the evolving needs of developers and users, driving innovation in mobile advertising while enhancing the overall quality of app engagements. Media Contact Company Name: GeeMee Contact Person: Renie Whitney Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=geemee-achieved-major-partnerships-at-mobidictum-conference-2024boosting-growth-with-ad-tech-solutions ] Country: United States Website: http://www.geemee.ai This release was published on openPR.Bennett's secret meeting ahead of his return to politics
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Access Holdings PLC has announced that its main subsidiary, Access Bank Plc, has successfully completed the acquisition of Standard Chartered Bank Angola S.A. and Standard Chartered Bank (Sierra Leone) Limited. This update was published on the NGX disclosure page and signed by the company secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, on November 27, 2024. The announcement follows an earlier statement from July 14, 2023, in which Access Holdings Plc disclosed that Access Bank Plc had reached an agreement to acquire several of Standard Chartered’s sub-Saharan African subsidiaries. Related Stories Access Bank debunks allegation of missing N500 million customer’s funds Access Holdings Plc acquires majority stake in Mauritius’ fourth-largest bank, Afrasia A year after announcing its plans, Access Holdings Plc has confirmed the completion of this significant acquisition, stating: “Access Holdings Plc is pleased to announce that its flagship subsidiary, Access Bank Plc, has completed the acquisition of Standard Chartered Bank Angola S.A. and Standard Chartered Bank (Sierra Leone) Limited.” In addition, the company announced that it is working to finalize the acquisition of Standard Chartered Bank’s subsidiaries in Cameroon and The Gambia, as well as its Consumer, Private, and Business Banking operations in Tanzania. On July 14, 2023, Access Holdings Plc and Standard Chartered Bank announced an agreement for Access Bank Plc, to acquire Standard Chartered’s sub-Saharan African subsidiaries. This acquisition deal included Access Bank purchasing Standard Chartered’s stakes in subsidiaries based in Angola, Cameroon, Gambia, and Sierra Leone. Additionally, Access Bank agreed to acquire Standard Chartered’s Consumer, Private, and Business Banking operations in Tanzania. The agreement came on the heels of Access Bank’s earlier acquisition of a 51% majority equity stake in Finibanco Angola, reinforcing its commitment to expanding its presence in Africa. In 2024, Access Holdings pursued its growth strategy with several notable acquisitions. These include an 80% stake in Uganda’s Finance Trust Bank, the full acquisition of National Bank of Kenya, and the purchase of African Banking Corporation of Tanzania, now operating as Access Bank Tanzania. Beyond banking, the company has expanded its portfolio by merging with ARM Pensions Managers to form Access ARM Pensions, now one of Nigeria’s larger pension administrators. The latest announcement on November 27, 2024, adds to Access Holdings’ expanding acquisition portfolio, further extending its presence in the financial services sector. Commenting on the acquisitions announced on November 27, 2024, Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank Plc and CEO of the Banking Group, expressed satisfaction with the successful completion of two major deals in Angola and Sierra Leone. “We are pleased to have successfully concluded two important acquisitions in Angola and Sierra Leone,” Ogbonna said. “ These transactions create synergies that enhance the quality of our earnings from both countries by significantly increasing our market share in corporate and SME banking.” He added, “These combinations mark another pivotal step in realizing our broader vision of becoming the world’s most respected African bank.” Access Holdings is Nigeria’s largest financial services company by total assets, supported by its focus on growth through mergers and acquisitions. The company’s stock, currently trading at N23, has shown consistent growth in 2024, building momentum since the third quarter.
